The Official 2018 F1 Silly Season *Contains Speculation*

[Vaud]

carl_w said:

Since Button's third driver role has been given to Lando Norris next year, could he be in the frame for the brand ambassador role given his history with Williams?

Not exactly the most harmonious break though?

[Mr_Thyroid]

MissChief said:

IMO that's all he has. I really cannot see him managing 'Strat 4, Engine 2 please Robert' all while holding onto the wheel at 200MPH. Watch this for all the changes made on a steering wheel just to start the car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn8AhLgmz9E

Then watch this for changes on the steering wheel on a single qualifying lap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHOPJAwm0s and then tell me Robert could adjust settings in corners and make eleven adjustments on the wheel and maintain speed and control? I said it months ago, I do not believe Kubica will get a race seat next season.

Sure, he might not get the seat, but how many tests has he had now? If he was unable to make the necessary adjustments or the engineers thought it was an insurmountable challenge all this would have stopped after his highly publicised test for Renault. Williams are hardly making a song and dance about it so I don't see it as being a publicity piece.

[MissChief]

Mr_Thyroid said:

MissChief said:

IMO that's all he has. I really cannot see him managing 'Strat 4, Engine 2 please Robert' all while holding onto the wheel at 200MPH. Watch this for all the changes made on a steering wheel just to start the car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn8AhLgmz9E

Then watch this for changes on the steering wheel on a single qualifying lap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHOPJAwm0s and then tell me Robert could adjust settings in corners and make eleven adjustments on the wheel and maintain speed and control? I said it months ago, I do not believe Kubica will get a race seat next season.

Sure, he might not get the seat, but how many tests has he had now? If he was unable to make the necessary adjustments or the engineers thought it was an insurmountable challenge all this would have stopped after his highly publicised test for Renault. Williams are hardly making a song and dance about it so I don't see it as being a publicity piece.

Publicity is a big one, and who's to say that Renault let Williams have all their data and thoughts on Robert's performance?

[Vaud]

MissChief said:

Publicity is a big one, and who's to say that Renault let Williams have all their data and thoughts on Robert's performance?

Cynical, aren’t you? ;-)

[rubystone]

Mr_Thyroid said:

There's some suggestion the Kvyat and Wehrlein are in the frame for Massa's seat, but given that neither of these drivers turn 25 until 2019 how does this square with Williams' agreement with Martini that they need a driver over that age?

I'd quite like to see Wehrlein get the seat - of those being mentioned he seems the most likely to fulfil his potential.

I believe that Bacardi would be prepared to take a younger driver. Why not use Massa as a brand ambassador?

[MissChief]

Vaud said:

MissChief said:

Publicity is a big one, and who's to say that Renault let Williams have all their data and thoughts on Robert's performance?

Cynical, aren’t you? ;-)

I prefer realist rather than complete idealist as some Kubica fans seem to be.

[andburg]

I’m truly torn part of me would love to see kubica given ththe chance if he’s capable the other half thinks losing wehrlein before he’s had a chance in the midfield would be a mistake.

Neither are future champions but there is a big age gap and I feel this will come down to a business decision based on what each of the options brings with them.

A vodka sponsorship coming with anyone of them would be good though, carry a small vodka martini and drink it sat the end of the race

[KobayashiMaru86]

To make sure Kubica could do it they could make him test driver then get PDR or Wehrlein as driver with Kubica doing lots of FP1 driving. If Stroll wasn't bringing so much money I'd say whoever is slowest at the end of the year and if Kubica is fit then he gets their seat in 2019.

[thegreenhell]

I'm sure I read that he said he's not interested in anything less than a full-time race drive. I don't think he'd bother just for a few FP1 runs.

The only shot I can see him getting is signing him as race driver, but with Wehrlein or Kvyat as reserve driver for a year in case he finds that he struggles physically in the actual races.

[rdjohn]

I suppose an important dimension is the old saying “he who pays the piper, calls the tune”.

Would Lawrence be happy if Robert was seen to be quicker than Lance? Much better to have him in the background somehow. Perhaps Lance’s mentor while Wehrlein drives and possibly brings cheaper engines and thus funding Robert.

Robert also takes on an important advertising role for Martini.

[99dndd]

Martini will want a racing driver filling the sponsor roles, not a 3rd or reserve driver.

Looking good for Di Resta.

[cuprabob]

99dndd said:

Martini will want a racing driver filling the sponsor roles, not a 3rd or reserve driver.

Looking good for Di Resta.

Another positive for my countryman Di Resta, is that once he starts talking he would drive you to drink

[thegreenhell]

99dndd said:

Looking good for Di Resta.

As someone else said recently, I hope Di Resta gets it just to get him off Sky. I think he'd be beaten by Stroll over a season though.

[Norfolkit]

rdjohn said:

I suppose an important dimension is the old saying “he who pays the piper, calls the tune”.

Would Lawrence be happy if Robert was seen to be quicker than Lance? Much better to have him in the background somehow. Perhaps Lance’s mentor while Wehrlein drives and possibly brings cheaper engines and thus funding Robert.

Robert also takes on an important advertising role for Martini.

A. Why the hell would Kubica be interested in that role, he's a driver and a bloody good one at that.

B. I would think Stroll senior would prefer it to be Kubica, no shame at Stroll's age being beaten by an older, proven race winner (as with Massa). Wehrlein's beaten by Eriksson sometimes (and I don't think many people see Eriksson as anything but a pay driver journeyman) so if he came in and started beating Stroll junior it wouldn't look good.

Edited by Norfolkit on Tuesday 7th November 00:06

[Vaud]

I agree.

Plenty of retired drivers available for brand roles. Some even have a Williams connection.

Williams need the fastest, most complete (development and race) driver that they can afford.

[HustleRussell]

Paddy Lowe said:

What's most important for the team is to pick a driver line-up that will give us the best performance and most exciting racing potential. There are some issues around advertising and Martini but if it came to it, I'm sure Martini would understand the importance -- if that's what we were to choose -- to have the best lineup for racing rather than for advertising.

We will cross that bridge if we need to. Age is not a factor in our primary objective which is to pick the best lineup.

A direct quote according to ESPN, 25th Oct.

[anonymous-user]

The only two drivers IMO for Williams would be Kubica or Pascal Wehrlein.

Paul was great at making the tyres "which had a very high wear rate" last whilst at Force India but I can not see him doing the business now.

Williams should ask Massa to step aside for one of the remaining races to give his seat to Kubica to see how he gets on.

A test is one thing but a full race is completely different.

I would love to see Kubica get the nod but Wehrlein is also worth a shot.

[tobinen]

I'd Jean-Eric Vergne a go, if he could be hired.

[rdjohn]

Norfolkit said:

A. Why the hell would Kubica be interested in that role, he's a driver and a bloody good one at that.


B. I would think Stroll senior would prefer it to be Kubica, no shame at Stroll's age being beaten by an older, proven race winner (as with Massa). Wehrlein's beaten by Eriksson sometimes (and I don't think many people see Eriksson as anything but a pay driver journeyman) so if he came in and started beating Stroll junior it wouldn't look good.

Edited by Norfolkit on Tuesday 7th November 00:06

1. ‘Cos he hasn’t got a job and needs gainful employment. He is not likely to get a role anywhere else. Clearly Renault would have taken him if they thought he could score good points / win races. They have all the data.

2. The sad reality is he was a proven winner 7-years ago. He still suffers from massive injuries to his arm. Stroll being beaten by him would be a big blow and would make it look like F1 is too easy if you can effectively drive 1-handed. Wehrlein would come with an engine package.

I would love Robert to get a drive with Williams and perform at the highest level, but disappointingly, I really do not see it happening.

[anonymous-user]

thegreenhell said:

....... I think he'd be beaten by Stroll over a season though.

Though you should be right, in that a supposed up and comer, in his second season, should beat a journeyman who had his chance some years ago but I wouldn't be too sure.

Very disappointed by Williams' apparent lack of ambition all round, to be honest. They've been very mediocre with their car design and development in recent years, unadventurous with their drivers and have been punished for it.

Hopefully, Lowe might bring some change to the former but if they remain cash strapped then it'll be more of the same I guess.