The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

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Discussion

99dndd

2,084 posts

89 months

Tuesday 6th November 2018
quotequote all
StevieBee said:
Smedley and Massa were like brothers - a team within a team both at Ferrari and Williams. I believe Massa's contract with Williams included a clause they also hire Smedley. It takes time to build that kind of bond - and chemistry which if its not there will not be conducive to harmonious working relationships. regardless of the pushed or walked debate, I doubt Smedley is too bothered.
Spot on. Smedley will be at Venturi's Formula E team before you know it.

Deesee

8,420 posts

83 months

Tuesday 6th November 2018
quotequote all
Claire Williams is beyond the grid this week..

https://mobile.twitter.com/F1/status/1059851151351...

DanielSan

18,786 posts

167 months

Tuesday 6th November 2018
quotequote all
Deesee said:
Claire Williams is beyond the grid this week..

https://mobile.twitter.com/F1/status/1059851151351...
It'll be interesting to see if we get honest answers in the interview or more management speak.

cuprabob

14,614 posts

214 months

Tuesday 6th November 2018
quotequote all
99dndd said:
StevieBee said:
Smedley and Massa were like brothers - a team within a team both at Ferrari and Williams. I believe Massa's contract with Williams included a clause they also hire Smedley. It takes time to build that kind of bond - and chemistry which if its not there will not be conducive to harmonious working relationships. regardless of the pushed or walked debate, I doubt Smedley is too bothered.
Spot on. Smedley will be at Venturi's Formula E team before you know it.
He has announced he is leaving Williams at the end of the season, so you may be right.

Tripe Bypass

582 posts

203 months

Thursday 8th November 2018
quotequote all
Paddy Lowe's move to Williams was part of the Bottas to Mercedes deal.

Vaud

Original Poster:

50,471 posts

155 months

Thursday 8th November 2018
quotequote all
Tripe Bypass said:
Paddy Lowe's move to Williams was part of the Bottas to Mercedes deal.
That's not what I have heard. As I understand it he felt the top of Mercedes was too crowded and jumped (and was given a share of Williams).

cuprabob

14,614 posts

214 months

Thursday 8th November 2018
quotequote all
Vaud said:
Tripe Bypass said:
Paddy Lowe's move to Williams was part of the Bottas to Mercedes deal.
That's not what I have heard. As I understand it he felt the top of Mercedes was too crowded and jumped (and was given a share of Williams).
My understand too.

I bet Frank Williams regrets not giving Adrian Newey a share in the company when he had a chance.

thegreenhell

15,329 posts

219 months

Thursday 8th November 2018
quotequote all
Vaud said:
Tripe Bypass said:
Paddy Lowe's move to Williams was part of the Bottas to Mercedes deal.
That's not what I have heard. As I understand it he felt the top of Mercedes was too crowded and jumped (and was given a share of Williams).
The two moves were coincidental, but the link was that his gardening leave was much reduced as part of the Bottas settlement, so he was allowed to join Williams much sooner than he would otherwise have been allowed to.

MissChief

7,107 posts

168 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
cuprabob said:
Vaud said:
Tripe Bypass said:
Paddy Lowe's move to Williams was part of the Bottas to Mercedes deal.
That's not what I have heard. As I understand it he felt the top of Mercedes was too crowded and jumped (and was given a share of Williams).
My understand too.

I bet Frank Williams regrets not giving Adrian Newey a share in the company when he had a chance.
Or Ron Dennis who, apparently low-balled Newey and refused to give a share of the team so Adrian got the hump and left for Red Bull. Where he got a share of the team, has been made a very wealthy man and has four World titles to boot.

DanielSan

18,786 posts

167 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Claire Williams said in the On the Grid Podcast this week that the second Williams driver will be announced before the end of the season so shouldn't be long to wait.

ralphrj

3,525 posts

191 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
MissChief said:
cuprabob said:
Vaud said:
Tripe Bypass said:
Paddy Lowe's move to Williams was part of the Bottas to Mercedes deal.
That's not what I have heard. As I understand it he felt the top of Mercedes was too crowded and jumped (and was given a share of Williams).
My understand too.

I bet Frank Williams regrets not giving Adrian Newey a share in the company when he had a chance.
Or Ron Dennis who, apparently low-balled Newey and refused to give a share of the team so Adrian got the hump and left for Red Bull. Where he got a share of the team, has been made a very wealthy man and has four World titles to boot.
Newey had 5 world (constructors') titles before he joined McLaren and another 1 by the time he left (92, 93, 94, 96 and 97 then 98).

He doesn't own part of the Red Bull team and I think he was probably already quite well off before he went there.

However, I do think that both Williams and McLaren failed to keep Newey motivated but I don't think money was the factor.

At Williams, SFW and Patrick Head failed to understand that casting Damon Hill aside would annoy Newey enough that he would move on.

At McLaren, Newey became frustrated with the teams culture and matrix structure.



Vaud

Original Poster:

50,471 posts

155 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
ralphrj said:
At Williams, SFW and Patrick Head failed to understand that casting Damon Hill aside would annoy Newey enough that he would move on.
I recall that he approached them and asked for equity, believing that he brought as much value to the team as Head. They disagreed, perhaps with a mindset that engineering had more impact than design/aero. Arrogance?


ralphrj

3,525 posts

191 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Vaud said:
I recall that he approached them and asked for equity, believing that he brought as much value to the team as Head. They disagreed, perhaps with a mindset that engineering had more impact than design/aero. Arrogance?
In the 7 seasons that Williams raced cars designed by Newey they won 4 WDC, 5 WCC and 59 of the 144 GPs.

In the 21 seasons since he left, Williams have won 0 WDC, 0 WCC and 11 of 382 GPs.

Maybe, accurate rather than arrogant?

andburg

7,288 posts

169 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
think you're both agreeing here that the arrogance of Williams and Head caused their downfall not Neweys arrogance

ralphrj

3,525 posts

191 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
You're right - I misread that.

rdjohn

6,177 posts

195 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
ralphrj said:
In the 7 seasons that Williams raced cars designed by Newey they won 4 WDC, 5 WCC and 59 of the 144 GPs.

In the 21 seasons since he left, Williams have won 0 WDC, 0 WCC and 11 of 382 GPs.
Those are stunning numbers. I suppose McLaren numbers tell a similar story.

thegreenhell

15,329 posts

219 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
rdjohn said:
ralphrj said:
In the 7 seasons that Williams raced cars designed by Newey they won 4 WDC, 5 WCC and 59 of the 144 GPs.

In the 21 seasons since he left, Williams have won 0 WDC, 0 WCC and 11 of 382 GPs.
Those are stunning numbers. I suppose McLaren numbers tell a similar story.
Not quite so stark:

With Newey (1997-2005) - 2 WDC, 1 WCC, 44 of 170 GPs
Since Newey (2006-) - 1 WDC, 0 WCC, 32 of 245 GPs

Vaud

Original Poster:

50,471 posts

155 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
andburg said:
think you're both agreeing here that the arrogance of Williams and Head caused their downfall not Neweys arrogance
Yes

Deesee

8,420 posts

83 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
andburg said:
He could fit well at Force India, a bit of familiarity will help Lance no end if the anticipated seat move happens.
You must know something that will be announced this weekend!!!!

wink

DMZ

1,396 posts

160 months

Friday 9th November 2018
quotequote all
Looking at this https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/rob-smedley-fut...

I’m convinced Smedley was let go. Stuff like being determined to stay in the sport and being lucky to have options, that all has a whiff of desperation about it. Nobody who casually walks out of a place say things like that. Then it’s all I’n taking it easy for a bit and I will announce my new thing in the next couple of weeks and I’m really excited about a new opportunity blah blah blah.

That said I’m sure he’ll get a job and I’m sure he has options and I’ve nothing against the guy or anything. There was just something oddly generic about the original press releases (even by Claire Williams standards) that made me wonder.