Williams F1

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Discussion

sgtBerbatov

2,597 posts

82 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
rider73 said:
I've been away and just catching up on all the F1 TV stuff -

sorry if already discussed to death - but was it me or was C4 and Sky Sports being incredibly kind when interviewing Clair Williams - if that was head of RBR, Ferrari or Renault they would ask a lot tougher questions - felt to me like a bit of a suck up - the "family" might have well built up a fantastic team back in the day, but they didn't know what to do, how to change or when to simply step back and say "Clair's not up to it" - instead they drove a great team into the ground and almost out of F1.... crossing fingers the new peeps will get this team back on track.
just IMHO of course.
I think Horner's arse is red raw with all the kissing it gets from Sky and C4, so I'm not sure what point you're making?

vaud

50,637 posts

156 months

NewUsername

925 posts

57 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
rider73 said:
I've been away and just catching up on all the F1 TV stuff -

sorry if already discussed to death - but was it me or was C4 and Sky Sports being incredibly kind when interviewing Clair Williams - if that was head of RBR, Ferrari or Renault they would ask a lot tougher questions - felt to me like a bit of a suck up - the "family" might have well built up a fantastic team back in the day, but they didn't know what to do, how to change or when to simply step back and say "Clair's not up to it" - instead they drove a great team into the ground and almost out of F1.... crossing fingers the new peeps will get this team back on track.
just IMHO of course.
Perhaps its because they understand that the teams position is not one of Claire's making

Shes done her job putting the racing budget on the table year after year, which is all her old man ever did, the engineering side has let her down and there's been some big names in that group. Its also not possible to change structure/culture of a company that size from season to season, it takes years and they are showing the right signs.

Byker28i

60,238 posts

218 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
Anyone else catch Claire crying as the drivers gave tributes at the end...

andburg

7,297 posts

170 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
vaud said:
acting suggests to me they actually did want claire to stay on for the rest of the year.

Wonder who is lined up to take over at the end of the season?

Byker28i

60,238 posts

218 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
andburg said:
vaud said:
acting suggests to me they actually did want claire to stay on for the rest of the year.

Wonder who is lined up to take over at the end of the season?
Joined in June as MD, I'd suggest the negotiations were going on for some time so they got their man in with plenty of time for a handover.
Roberts has lots of experience from McLaren

Muzzer79

10,064 posts

188 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
rider73 said:
I've been away and just catching up on all the F1 TV stuff -

sorry if already discussed to death - but was it me or was C4 and Sky Sports being incredibly kind when interviewing Clair Williams - if that was head of RBR, Ferrari or Renault they would ask a lot tougher questions - felt to me like a bit of a suck up - the "family" might have well built up a fantastic team back in the day, but they didn't know what to do, how to change or when to simply step back and say "Clair's not up to it" - instead they drove a great team into the ground and almost out of F1.... crossing fingers the new peeps will get this team back on track.
just IMHO of course.
I'm not her biggest fan, but interesting how you solely lay the blame at Claire's door for the team's demise.

As I recall; they weren't doing that great when Frank was still in charge between 2004 and 2013....

In fact it's only really 2018 and 2019 that were complete disasters under her watch.

There's many, many reasons for Williams' failure recently. Claire is just one (very arguable) factor.

Muzzer79

10,064 posts

188 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
LucyP said:
Muzzer79 said:
I think Dorilton are just a vehicle for someone else.

Someone wanted the team, but didn't want to make it public. They overpaid for one thing.

Dorilton are just credible middle-men. The Williams' replacement as team principal(s) will show how serious they are about developing the team now they've gone.
VW
Martians.


About as likely

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
rider73 said:
I've been away and just catching up on all the F1 TV stuff -

sorry if already discussed to death - but was it me or was C4 and Sky Sports being incredibly kind when interviewing Clair Williams - if that was head of RBR, Ferrari or Renault they would ask a lot tougher questions - felt to me like a bit of a suck up - the "family" might have well built up a fantastic team back in the day, but they didn't know what to do, how to change or when to simply step back and say "Clair's not up to it" - instead they drove a great team into the ground and almost out of F1.... crossing fingers the new peeps will get this team back on track.
just IMHO of course.
If it were Horner getting sacked I'm sure they would do it differently "Oi, Horner - did it have anything to do with you being a smug, arse faced weasel"? Springs to mind. But with Claire it wasn't so much a sacking as a funeral, it was the end of a major chunk of history in F1 and she was the last Williams out the door - she symobolised the end of the team as it was. I think the media are aware that there are loyal fans out there and that there is a degree of sensitivity required as she departs..

Personally imo it was high time they sold and overdue for Claire to go - but on that particular final interview at a GP I wouldn't have been in a hurry to point that out to her. She probably already knows...

entropy

5,450 posts

204 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
rider73 said:
I've been away and just catching up on all the F1 TV stuff -

sorry if already discussed to death - but was it me or was C4 and Sky Sports being incredibly kind when interviewing Clair Williams - if that was head of RBR, Ferrari or Renault they would ask a lot tougher questions - felt to me like a bit of a suck up - the "family" might have well built up a fantastic team back in the day, but they didn't know what to do, how to change or when to simply step back and say "Clair's not up to it" - instead they drove a great team into the ground and almost out of F1.... crossing fingers the new peeps will get this team back on track.
just IMHO of course.
I think the respect was deserved.

Despite her failings I think she was still respected because she is very personable who never played games with the media and her rivals.



n3il123

2,608 posts

214 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
ash73 said:
Looking at what they ran at Monza I think they need a new aerodynamicist!
Or a new technical director....anyone have a number for Paddy Lowe?

thegreenhell

15,444 posts

220 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
entropy said:
rider73 said:
I've been away and just catching up on all the F1 TV stuff -

sorry if already discussed to death - but was it me or was C4 and Sky Sports being incredibly kind when interviewing Clair Williams - if that was head of RBR, Ferrari or Renault they would ask a lot tougher questions - felt to me like a bit of a suck up - the "family" might have well built up a fantastic team back in the day, but they didn't know what to do, how to change or when to simply step back and say "Clair's not up to it" - instead they drove a great team into the ground and almost out of F1.... crossing fingers the new peeps will get this team back on track.
just IMHO of course.
I think the respect was deserved.

Despite her failings I think she was still respected because she is very personable who never played games with the media and her rivals.
Today's Missed Apex podcast with Joe Saward didn't pull any punches on this. It would be fair to say he wasn't her biggest fan.

The Moose

22,867 posts

210 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
I'm obviously in the minority here, but I really hope they remove the name and re-brand the team as soon as practical. I don't think they will, but I feel they should.

vaud

50,637 posts

156 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
The Moose said:
I'm obviously in the minority here, but I really hope they remove the name and re-brand the team as soon as practical. I don't think they will, but I feel they should.
I wouldn't be surprised if it stayed as a condition of sale, at least for X years. Given they are former WDCs/WCCs I suspect the brand is worth something.

Better to put sponsor brands around it and make more of those.

Also will they still receive bonus fees under the new Concorde agreement aligned to the brand, rather than the entry?

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
quotequote all
The Moose said:
I'm obviously in the minority here, but I really hope they remove the name and re-brand the team as soon as practical. I don't think they will, but I feel they should.
There is value in the name I'd think. The fans (mostly) like it and the sponsors will like that. Also it draws attention each time a milestone year in the teams history comes around, and that only ever gets more impressive as the team grows older.

It's nonsense of course, it would be the same team whatever they call it and in spirit it's not really 'Williams' anymore. But so long as the value remains in terms of association and familiarity they'll keep it. I think it'll stick for a very long time.

That's not to say they won't add to the title they race under in order to shoehorn another brand in, but that's to be expected these days really.

anonymous-user

55 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
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The infrastructure they bought isn't worth the money paid, they clearly paid a price for the brand.

NewUsername

925 posts

57 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
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Assume they keep payments if they keep the brand

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Wednesday 9th September 2020
quotequote all
NewUsername said:
Assume they keep payments if they keep the brand
And also most likely why they dropped their title sponsor pre-season.

anonymous-user

55 months

Wednesday 9th September 2020
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Do Williams receive any special payments under the new Concorde agreement?

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Wednesday 9th September 2020
quotequote all
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
Do Williams receive any special payments under the new Concorde agreement?
Not confirmed I don't think. Although Ferrari kept theirs and I'm guessing to ensure Williams were saleable they'd keep theirs too.