Alexander Würz, which is these days in Formulas 1 active as president of the Racers Association GDPA and an expert commentator on Austrian television ORF, ended his racing career in the royal class of motorsport more than ten years ago, but even today he is annoyed by one decision from the then team boss Ron Dennis.
In 2000, Wurz finished racing at Benetton. He was looking for a new home, he wanted a new beginning. “I've had many offers from midfield teams, but none from the top team,”Explained Wurz in the podcast“Beyond the Grid". "But Ron Dennis offered me the role of McLaren test racer. I landed right away.“Wurz took on the role of test racer to make a long-term c McLarn caught a permanent seat. “My goal was to show them my ability and to gain a permanent seat later."
However, there was no bread from this flour. Wurz failed to obtain a permanent seat. After the first tests in 2002, an opportunity arose. Dennis he knew of his ambitions to break through the spare bench into racing events. “Yes, we talked about that too. For him, that was fine as long as the team was in first place. I was able to follow my own interests, but I had to work hard. He told me I needed to impress him and test him very well."
Würz was very busy and was tirelessly tested for Miko Hakkinen in David Coulthard on all possible paths of the world. He exceeded 27 track records, the Austrian proudly says. However, he was increasingly frustrated in his role as a test and backup racer. “In my second year at McLarn, Adrian Newey and Martin Whitmarsh let me know they wanted to put me in a race car. I was very motivated and at some point they also told me that I would be racing for the team next season."
Würz was very upset as Dennis apparently wanted to withdraw the option in his contract for 2002. But unfortunately this option was prevented by the young Finn. “At the same time, Dennis learned that he could contract with Kimi Raikkonen. So he had to decide.”And as is well known, the 22-year-old got the advantage Raikkonen, which came from Sauber. "It was only a matter of hours then. That was very frustrating for me. Someone holds the cookies in front of your nose and pulls them away right away."
Wurz: "Ron chose this because Kimi was a better choice in his opinion. I felt neglected. But I’m not stupid and I know he acted in the best faith for the team.”Z Raikkonen he wanted Dennis become a world champion and continue the legacy Mike Hakkinen. But after five years and two runner-up titles, Raikkonen left McLaren in the direction Ferrari. Wurz, however, was given only one chance to race for McLaren in 2005 at GP San Marino, where he won third place.
But Würz he wasn’t just frustrated by Dennis ’decision to head to McLarn. "He had a great offer from Jaguar.“I could become a teammate there Brand Webbra, whom he still greatly appreciates today as a friend. “They wanted to have me, but Ron didn’t want to let me go, even though he didn’t give me a permanent seat. And even though I earned more at McLaren than many regular racers, I was very angry. And even today it makes me a little angry,Wurz admitted.
