The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

[Deesee]

Rob Smedley is to leave Williams at the end of this season.

[HardtopManual]

Another high-profile Williams departure after the Aero and Design leads. Claire Williams has some serious questions to answer - it's not lack of success that causes such high turnover; it's an awful working environment and poor leadership.

Link to Williams press release: https://www.williamsf1.com/racing/news/2018/11/rob...

[DanielSan]

Would it be wise to stick Claire in the Heritage department now before there's no Williams left worth saving?

[Deesee]

There’s only one way to properly scupper this ship, bouiller and whitmarsh to come in

Sad days for a great team, Rob nice role at Merc coming up?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Rob Smedley at Mercedes? Why?

Seems like a great bloke when interviewed but he’s hardly done anything of note has he?

[Deesee]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Rob Smedley at Mercedes? Why?

Seems like a great bloke when interviewed but he’s hardly done anything of note has he?

Did alright was it 2x 3rd places in the WCC.

Intricate knowledge of the PU from his role, im sure they would not want that over at Honda/Renault/Ferrari ?

[turbomoped]

Being as the engine has been the one thing of consistent quality they need to figure out what they have been doing wrong the last 2 years.
Some people have gone some new ones have started but it doesnt all happen overnight.
I think williams have the mclaren problem of have a lot more than f1 going on.
At least they have bothered to sign a good young british driver and all the delay on driver 2 is probably ocon negotiations.
You dont behave like a mug and say you will do anything to have him in the team as then toto wont give you the best deal on engines.
A bit of hardball so it looks like his next superstar is going to sit the next season out helps.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Deesee said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Rob Smedley at Mercedes? Why?

Seems like a great bloke when interviewed but he’s hardly done anything of note has he?

Did alright was it 2x 3rd places in the WCC.

Intricate knowledge of the PU from his role, im sure they would not want that over at Honda/Renault/Ferrari ?

They don’t get intricate knowledge of the PU. Mercedes staff control everything, as do all the engine manufacturers.

[Vaud]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Rob Smedley at Mercedes? Why?

Seems like a great bloke when interviewed but he’s hardly done anything of note has he?

I think he is viewed as a solid, experienced team player who is good at getting the best out of team members and drivers. Solid on detail and a good analytical mind.

OK, he is no Ross Brawn, but you don't want a team full of Ross's.

He is the kind of guy a mid-field team need. Or maybe he will go to Liberty or the FIA. Or do something different like endurance racing.

[andburg]

He could fit well at Force India, a bit of familiarity will help Lance no end if the anticipated seat move happens.

[Deesee]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Deesee said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Rob Smedley at Mercedes? Why?

Seems like a great bloke when interviewed but he’s hardly done anything of note has he?

Did alright was it 2x 3rd places in the WCC.

Intricate knowledge of the PU from his role, im sure they would not want that over at Honda/Renault/Ferrari ?

They don’t get intricate knowledge of the PU. Mercedes staff control everything, as do all the engine manufacturers.

So they have no access to dyno results, how the engine is required to be packaged, how the PU is required to be geared (with the independent box) and how it’s required to power the rear wheels, and absolutely no idea of how it should work in conjunction with the aero, let alone connect to the battery cells, no wonder these customer teams are struggling.

[Fire99]

HardtopManual said:

Claire Williams has some serious questions to answer -

I think it may be time for Claire to step aside. Williams need a different hand on the tiller..

[thegreenhell]

Fire99 said:

HardtopManual said:

Claire Williams has some serious questions to answer -

I think it may be time for Claire to step aside. Williams need a different hand on the tiller..

How much influence does Claire actually have in the team, with Sir Frank still going to the factory every day? She's still only the deputy TP, isn't she, on paper at least?

[Fire99]

thegreenhell said:

How much influence does Claire actually have in the team, with Sir Frank still going to the factory every day? She's still only the deputy TP, isn't she, on paper at least?

Now that is a good question. I've felt Sir Frank has been a little less 'hands on' than in the past. It would be interesting to know the truth on this one.
Whoever is holding the reins, Williams needs a big organisational shift.. It's looking like the hinges have come off the door.

[Jinba Ittai]

DanielSan said:

Would it be wise to stick Claire in the Heritage department now before there's no Williams left worth saving?

I don't think she plays nicely with her brother, so probably not a good idea!

[DMZ]

Is the story that those senior folks have left Williams on their own accord or they were pushed? The team has performed very poorly and you'd think someone who's in charge of performance, ie Smedley, would be held responsible for that. Claire Williams, who I don't think particularly highly of as it happens, has implied with her management speak that they're going to do a reorg which will magically fix the problems.

[cuprabob]

DMZ said:

Is the story that those senior folks have left Williams on their own accord or they were pushed? The team has performed very poorly and you'd think someone who's in charge of performance, ie Smedley, would be held responsible for that. Claire Williams, who I don't think particularly highly of as it happens, has implied with her management speak that they're going to do a reorg which will magically fix the problems.

From the outside, Paddy Lowe hasn't had rhe impact that was expected. I know it takes time but I would have expected to some progress by now.

[DanielSan]

Jinba Ittai said:

I don't think she plays nicely with her brother, so probably not a good idea!

Switch them round, could he be any worse?

[Vaud]

DanielSan said:

Switch them round, could he be any worse?

Yes.

[Bullitt Five-Oh]

Vaud said:

DanielSan said:

Switch them round, could he be any worse?

Yes.

Is the brother really that much worse than her? I take we're talking Jonathan here? He used to be responsible for talent management at Williams (e.g. development and subsequent signing up of Montoya).