Williams F1

[TheDeuce]

It lives!

https://twitter.com/WilliamsRacing/status/12231690...

Already a solid improvement over last years season start

[sgtBerbatov]

TheDeuce said:

It lives!

https://twitter.com/WilliamsRacing/status/12231690...

Already a solid improvement over last years season start

Hopefully this indicates at least some sort of improvement over last year. It means nothing really if they're still 2 seconds off the pace.

[TheDeuce]

sgtBerbatov said:

Hopefully this indicates at least some sort of improvement over last year. It means nothing really if they're still 2 seconds off the pace.

Realistically I'm sure they will be off the pace still. And it's an evolution of the car they already had, so not surprising it's already powered up and we can assume effectively 'complete' and on time. But on paper at least, that is an improvement.

What I look forward to seeing are small improvements that at least gives the drivers a chance to do a little racing as and when they get the opportunity. For example, being allowed to use the kerbs without fear of damaging limited supply spare parts most weekends, and maybe at least mildly more reliable handling traits, so they can push to their ability more often, not just drive wary of the cars ability. These are the sort of improvements that they should be able to find with time alone, it doesn't all have to cost multiple millions to find little tweaks that can add up to a small but appreciable over all improvement.

Trying to be realistic! Positive, but realistic

[Fundoreen]

Dont really expect them to move far up the grid but they are the proper idea of a racing team started and run by an enthusiast.
A guy that loves the sport starts a team and hires a lot of people to participate in the adventure.
Staff numbers may seem too big in the current skinflint world of getting the maximum out of the fewest people but as long as they can balance the books so what.
I dont think any sane person would think sacking 100 people to make a few extra wiggly bits of plastic is something to agree with.
Lets hope the cost cap helps a bit.

[TheDeuce]

Fundoreen said:

Dont really expect them to move far up the grid but they are the proper idea of a racing team started and run by an enthusiast.
A guy that loves the sport starts a team and hires a lot of people to participate in the adventure.
Staff numbers may seem too big in the current skinflint world of getting the maximum out of the fewest people but as long as they can balance the books so what.
I dont think any sane person would think sacking 100 people to make a few extra wiggly bits of plastic is something to agree with.
Lets hope the cost cap helps a bit.

I love the sentiment. I really do. Sadly they failed to balance the books, and they cannot reach the cost caps. They were hoping for a much lower cost cap, and they did push hard for it.

In the end, their budget reflects their performance and also dictates the size of the team they can maintain. Maybe 2021 onward will help a little - certainly could if they got the new regs right, or at least better than at least one other team. The target of getting off the back row is what I'm most hopeful for, then slowly build up sponsor confidence and push on from that point. If they enter 2021 still way off P18 pace however... That wouldn't be good.

[Fortitude]

Formel Schmidt Interview mit Damon Hill | auto motor und sport
auto motor und sport
Published on Feb 2, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjUUAC5Rdgk

THIS interview, which is conducted in English, after an initial introduction in German, explains IMHO, a lot about Williams in the 1990's... ...the fall out from the departure of Damon Hill, with Adrian Newey leaving as well... ...listen to the words of and watch the facial reaction of Patrick Head!! IMHO, somehow Patrick Head knew what was coming...

ITV Meridian Tonight : WilliamsF1 FW19 Car Launch (31-01-1997)
Published on Jul 5, 2012
ITV Meridian Tonight Reporter Sally Simmonds attends the Launch of the latest Williams Grand Prix Car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fej_hAO8xG4

It is all a matter of opinion, BUT IMHO, the slow decline of Williams started here... ...IMHO, IF they had been able to keep Adrian Newey, history would have been a lot different for Williams!!

[TheDeuce]

Fortitude said:

Formel Schmidt Interview mit Damon Hill | auto motor und sport
auto motor und sport
Published on Feb 2, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjUUAC5Rdgk

THIS interview, which is conducted in English, after an initial introduction in German, explains IMHO, a lot about Williams in the 1990's... ...the fall out from the departure of Damon Hill, with Adrian Newey leaving as well... ...listen to the words of and watch the facial reaction of Patrick Head!! IMHO, somehow Patrick Head knew what was coming...

ITV Meridian Tonight : WilliamsF1 FW19 Car Launch (31-01-1997)
Published on Jul 5, 2012
ITV Meridian Tonight Reporter Sally Simmonds attends the Launch of the latest Williams Grand Prix Car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fej_hAO8xG4

It is all a matter of opinion, BUT IMHO, the slow decline of Williams started here... ...IMHO, IF they had been able to keep Adrian Newey, history would have been a lot different for Williams!!

You might be right. If so I would say that not being to find, attract or nurture another 'newey' in 23 whole years is also a problem in itself. That's a very long time to not have found an effective replacement.

Other things have happened in that time too. They have to use engines from their competitors so they'll never get the packaging as tight as the top teams - and that today is a very big part of making a winning car. Also the sheer cost since the 90's is staggering.

Edited by TheDeuce on Sunday 16th February 14:56

[HighwayStar]

Fortitude said:

Formel Schmidt Interview mit Damon Hill | auto motor und sport
auto motor und sport
Published on Feb 2, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjUUAC5Rdgk

THIS interview, which is conducted in English, after an initial introduction in German, explains IMHO, a lot about Williams in the 1990's... ...the fall out from the departure of Damon Hill, with Adrian Newey leaving as well... ...listen to the words of and watch the facial reaction of Patrick Head!! IMHO, somehow Patrick Head knew what was coming...

ITV Meridian Tonight : WilliamsF1 FW19 Car Launch (31-01-1997)
Published on Jul 5, 2012
ITV Meridian Tonight Reporter Sally Simmonds attends the Launch of the latest Williams Grand Prix Car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fej_hAO8xG4

It is all a matter of opinion, BUT IMHO, the slow decline of Williams started here... ...IMHO, IF they had been able to keep Adrian Newey, history would have been a lot different for Williams!!

The thing is, they could’ve kept him. Newey didn’t want to leave, he wanted a share on Williams. Frank said no. Mclaren came calling and off he went. Frank has admitted it was a mistake to accommodate Newey’s request. To much pride and underestimating what is required ever since.

[TheDeuce]

HighwayStar said:

The thing is, they could’ve kept him. Newey didn’t want to leave, he wanted a share on Williams. Frank said no. Mclaren came calling and off he went. Frank has admitted it was a mistake to accommodate Newey’s request. To much pride and underestimating what is required ever since.

You could apply the problem of pride and stubbornness to an awful lot of what has happened since the glory days, right up to today.

Not that it's an easy situation - Frank loves his team and they love him. It's just not working nor workable as it's set up today. Also frankly he's to old to expect change from... He's done his bit. I wonder if Claire petitioned him to accept major changes, would he listen? Would she even try in the first place? Probably questions we'll never have the answer to..

[HighwayStar]

TheDeuce said:

HighwayStar said:

The thing is, they could’ve kept him. Newey didn’t want to leave, he wanted a share on Williams. Frank said no. Mclaren came calling and off he went. Frank has admitted it was a mistake to accommodate Newey’s request. To much pride and underestimating what is required ever since.

You could apply the problem of pride and stubbornness to an awful lot of what has happened since the glory days, right up to today.

That’s basically what I was saying... I image Frank and Patrick thought they’d always be at the top building the best car with top line drivers desperate to get their arse in their car. Meanwhile advances, new thinking and innovation has passed them by.

[TheDeuce]

HighwayStar said:

That’s basically what I was saying... I image Frank and Patrick thought they’d always be at the top building the best car with top line drivers desperate to get their arse in their car. Meanwhile advances, new thinking and innovation has passed them by.

Yes. And now they've been on the back foot for long enough to turn the sponsors off. A reset is needed.

Investment is needed, massive investment to carry the team and support a return to competitiveness and the the sponsors return. The current scrabbling around for £££ won't yield results in modern F1.

[Piginapoke]

HighwayStar said:

That’s basically what I was saying... I image Frank and Patrick thought they’d always be at the top building the best car with top line drivers desperate to get their arse in their car. Meanwhile advances, new thinking and innovation has passed them by.

I'm reading AH's autobiography at the moment- well worth a read. He says it was FW and PH hiring drivers without consulting him (Villeneuve and Frentzen) that did it, as this was in his contract. No mention of any equity.

[Piginapoke]

Just to add, looking at the quality and sophistication of the new cars, I think Williams are again in big trouble- they seem years behind their competitors.

[Petrus1983]

Piginapoke said:

I'm reading AH's autobiography at the moment- well worth a read. He says it was FW and PH hiring drivers without consulting him (Villeneuve and Frentzen) that did it, as this was in his contract. No mention of any equity.

Who’s AH?

[TheDeuce]

Piginapoke said:

Just to add, looking at the quality and sophistication of the new cars, I think Williams are again in big trouble- they seem years behind their competitors.

Have you read this? https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.william...

Claire said a few weeks back that this years car development was better than last due to this year's tub passing tests weeks ahead of schedule. Reading the quotes from their press launch I'm thinking it passed because it's the same tub, and by extension basically the same car. Apparently they're focusing on their record of reliability - I would say it's quite easy to have a reliable F1 car when you're telling your drivers to avoid kerbs all season and they can't push in between kerbs as they know it'll spin...

They're now one more year behind the rest then. They're going to get pulled to pieces this season.

I'll probably get slated for being so negative, but their comments about the 'new' car are just depressing.

[ajprice]

2020 car launch pictures https://www.racefans.net/2020/02/17/first-pictures...

[rdjohn]

Jonathan Noble reckons that the car won’t make testing this week

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-2020-c...

I remember when he used to be a journalist

[TheDeuce]

rdjohn said:

Jonathan Noble reckons that the car won’t make testing this week

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-2020-c...

I remember when he used to be a journalist

I'm sure he meant 'this week'. The article isn't really journalism I'll grant you that.. just a couple of already known facts fleshed out with quotes from Claire.

[HighwayStar]

Petrus1983 said:

Piginapoke said:

I'm reading AH's autobiography at the moment- well worth a read. He says it was FW and PH hiring drivers without consulting him (Villeneuve and Frentzen) that did it, as this was in his contract. No mention of any equity.

Who’s AH?

I wondered too... He means AN, Adrian Newey...

[HighwayStar]

Piginapoke said:

HighwayStar said:

That’s basically what I was saying... I image Frank and Patrick thought they’d always be at the top building the best car with top line drivers desperate to get their arse in their car. Meanwhile advances, new thinking and innovation has passed them by.

I'm reading AH's autobiography at the moment- well worth a read. He says it was FW and PH hiring drivers without consulting him (Villeneuve and Frentzen) that did it, as this was in his contract. No mention of any equity.

There you... Frank said it himself.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-admits...