Discussion
DanielSan said:
I'd go more with it's like watching the end of Tyrrell than the Third Reich
I agree. Apart from anything else most people inside and outside of Germany WANTED the Third Reich to collapse. It's pretty clear looking through this thread over the last two years that the vast majority want Williams to continue, and are just dismayed at the reality.My main issue with Claire is that she doesn’t speak and act like a leader. I can’t recall any other leader, particularly in sport or other competitive environments, going on record that they might not be the right person for the job.
At the GP I attended last season she was only present in the garage for the race (not on pit wall) and even then seemed to spend a lot of time playing with her phone. Very little interaction with either side of the garage.
At the GP I attended last season she was only present in the garage for the race (not on pit wall) and even then seemed to spend a lot of time playing with her phone. Very little interaction with either side of the garage.
shirt said:
My main issue with Claire is that she doesn’t speak and act like a leader. I can’t recall any other leader, particularly in sport or other competitive environments, going on record that they might not be the right person for the job.
At the GP I attended last season she was only present in the garage for the race (not on pit wall) and even then seemed to spend a lot of time playing with her phone. Very little interaction with either side of the garage.
I don't think she 'gets' the technical strategic side of racing as much as those that are on the pit-wall do. I've never heard her comment about the events of a race in a way that suggests she had a full appreciation of exactly what happened/why/was it the right call etc.At the GP I attended last season she was only present in the garage for the race (not on pit wall) and even then seemed to spend a lot of time playing with her phone. Very little interaction with either side of the garage.
Which is fine, it's fair enough to stand back if you're employing experts to do the job better than you can yourself. I agree that on the occasions she has questioned herself - that isn't the statement of a determined and natural born leader.
A few people have said what did you expect regarding this year.
From my point of view they have nothing to lose, they can't feasibly be worse than last year so take some risks, try something different. Give the engineers something to engage with. Most of the cost is already sunk anyway, producing slightly different shapes of CF when you need to produce something anyway isn't going to cost millions extra.
I imagine a lot of the talent has already jumped ship before they heard the target for the season was to try and close the gap to 18th.
I'm hoping they're just downplaying it and they have found enough to atleast get off the bottom.
From my point of view they have nothing to lose, they can't feasibly be worse than last year so take some risks, try something different. Give the engineers something to engage with. Most of the cost is already sunk anyway, producing slightly different shapes of CF when you need to produce something anyway isn't going to cost millions extra.
I imagine a lot of the talent has already jumped ship before they heard the target for the season was to try and close the gap to 18th.
I'm hoping they're just downplaying it and they have found enough to atleast get off the bottom.
ChocolateFrog said:
A few people have said what did you expect regarding this year.
From my point of view they have nothing to lose, they can't feasibly be worse than last year so take some risks, try something different. Give the engineers something to engage with. Most of the cost is already sunk anyway, producing slightly different shapes of CF when you need to produce something anyway isn't going to cost millions extra.
I imagine a lot of the talent has already jumped ship before they heard the target for the season was to try and close the gap to 18th.
I'm hoping they're just downplaying it and they have found enough to atleast get off the bottom.
That's my view, I said something similar a few posts back: Why not try something, even if it's just to set the car up specifically to be strong at a handful of circuits? It would surely be better this year to have 1 or 2 midfield finishes as opposed to all back row finishes? Even if the car is technically weaker overall, the sponsors/fans will largely see the points they could win at the circuits they would be strong at, and have something positive to focus on/celebrate.From my point of view they have nothing to lose, they can't feasibly be worse than last year so take some risks, try something different. Give the engineers something to engage with. Most of the cost is already sunk anyway, producing slightly different shapes of CF when you need to produce something anyway isn't going to cost millions extra.
I imagine a lot of the talent has already jumped ship before they heard the target for the season was to try and close the gap to 18th.
I'm hoping they're just downplaying it and they have found enough to atleast get off the bottom.
As you say though, this is year three (probably..) seriously on their backsides - no way of knowing how much talent has wandered off or become disillusioned in that time.
TheDeuce said:
It is a great start. Far better than this time last year. I fear they will be at the bottom overall by the end of next week.. Although I am prepared to be amazed.
I’m sure you’re right - I’d just like them to atleast be close enough to pick up a few points based on merit. I didn’t like GR this time last year but he really impressed me with his attitude last season so hope he does well. Petrus1983 said:
I’m sure you’re right - I’d just like them to atleast be close enough to pick up a few points based on merit. I didn’t like GR this time last year but he really impressed me with his attitude last season so hope he does well.
That would need the Williams to take a little step forwards (which they may have, fingers crossed on that), and also another team to have some problems going in to the season. If another team struggles with heat issues or very poor tyre wear when the weather is a bit warmer than testing, that scenario could come to be.Still reliant on some luck, so not exactly on merit.. But I agree 100% about GR, and his contribution to winning such points would be entirely on merit.
Russell live on air with Sky right now. He's not exactly jumping with enthusiasm but has said the car feels improved, more in the window confidence wise and 'pleasant' to drive. Pleasant is an odd choice of word for an F1 car, but is more positive than anything either driver said last year, so I'll take it 
He did reflect that pleasant doesn't = fast, and he would have to wait and see for that.
He did reflect that pleasant doesn't = fast, and he would have to wait and see for that.
It was nice to see the onboard with Latifi and see that it was pretty smooth.
He wasn't a million miles off (I know testing times don't mean much) the pace so it's not like they're driving around really slowly to look better.
Positive steps taken I think, regardless of how far off they end up.
He wasn't a million miles off (I know testing times don't mean much) the pace so it's not like they're driving around really slowly to look better.
Positive steps taken I think, regardless of how far off they end up.
Claire is doing an AMA on reddit tomorrow..
https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/f6bept/...
That will be worth a read/contribution
@theduece
https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/f6bept/...
That will be worth a read/contribution
@theduece
Deesee said:
Claire is doing an AMA on reddit tomorrow..
https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/f6bept/...
That will be worth a read/contribution
@theduece
Ha! She's ex marketing - it'll be 'ask me anything' (I'll answer what I want) https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/f6bept/...
That will be worth a read/contribution
@theduece
I'll be keen to see what she has to say for sure, and after today she's got a little positivity to share around I'm sure.
TheDeuce said:
Russell live on air with Sky right now. He's not exactly jumping with enthusiasm but has said the car feels improved, more in the window confidence wise and 'pleasant' to drive. Pleasant is an odd choice of word for an F1 car, but is more positive than anything either driver said last year, so I'll take it
He did reflect that pleasant doesn't = fast, and he would have to wait and see for that.
I read that this year's car was largely based on the 2019 car, except without some of the traits that made it very hard to drive quickly. That was Williams target!!He did reflect that pleasant doesn't = fast, and he would have to wait and see for that.
Which says to me this year is about surviving until the upcoming major rule changes. 2020 will be no more competitive for Williams than last year.
It's good they have actually launched their car on time tho
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