Roy Nissany - Is this what Williams are reduced to?
Discussion
Roy Nissany took the wheel of the 2019 Williams today for another half day of testing in Abu Dhabi.
He ended up 6.5 seconds off the pace and 3.5 seconds off Williams' other driver; Nicholas Latifi.
I thought his name was familiar, so some simple Googling reveals that Roy is the son of Chanoch Nissany.
Having started racing at the age of 38; Chanoch famously made a deal to be Minardi's test driver in 2005 and was the team's third driver in Hungary that year.
At the age of 42, he took the wheel for Friday practice at the Hungaroring and was almost 13 seconds off the pace.
Now, we all know that Minardi were fairly desperate in the Paul Stoddart days but are Williams in such dire straits that they're offering glorified track days to rich kids with little talent?
Lance Stroll may have paid his way in, but at least he can drive respectably.
Sad times.
Going too slow through Eau Rouge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Fha4BV86g
Braking too early in Monaco - https://youtu.be/uQ_5vv0e1_Q?t=85
Braking too early in Monaco - https://youtu.be/uQ_5vv0e1_Q?t=85
Kraken said:
If it pays the bills and means their workers can pay their mortgages I'm fine with it.
That's my take on it, to keep everyone paid and the team in the sport. It's fine and there is no other way right now.But.. what is missing is a long term solution to actually improve the situation. The only way I can see that happening in a pre 2021 cash injection to re-capitalise the team, and see them through a couple of seasons of being more competitive until serious sponsors return and can carry them.
Why has this not happened yet? Because imagine the money needed. No one is going to hand that kind of money over without taking a controlling share at the very least. The Williams family don't want that.
In the end I think it's not too long before sale, either wholesale or a controlling stake, will be the only option. If that is the case, perhaps sooner rather than later would be a good idea.
ELUSIVEJIM said:
McLaren has managed to get back into the midfield. So it is possible.
Is Claire Williams the issue or is that being harsh?
Maclaren were not as financially stuck as Williams. Nor... As uncompetitive. They're really stuck - able to survive for now but slipping back each time a new car is required and their lack of presense each race is unappealing to sponsors. They only get any real screen time when something negative has happened - hardly a sponsors dream.Is Claire Williams the issue or is that being harsh?
They have passed the critical point and need cash to get back on top of their game and finances
williamp said:
Personally if I won the euromillions, I would write to all the f1 teams and ask:
Testing. Current F1 car. How much???
I maybe 30 seconds off the pace at somewhere like brands hatch Indy, mallory etc. It really wouldnt bother me in the slightest...
What's interesting about that scenario is... What if Williams were the only team to say yes? You would be stuck with what I imagine is the hardest car to drive on the grid. In the other cars, if you have the balls to go fast enough to switch them on, they'll look after you unless you get too cocky and start to push the car close to it's limit - at which point, let's be honest, you would probably start to fail. According to both Williams drivers, their car is unpredictable and they put as much effort in to keeping it line as they do in trying to compete in any way. It just doesn't generate enough down-force to be dependable above fairly pedestrian (by F1 standards) speeds. Getting the Williams car to set a sTesting. Current F1 car. How much???
I maybe 30 seconds off the pace at somewhere like brands hatch Indy, mallory etc. It really wouldnt bother me in the slightest...
tty lap time could take as much ability as getting a top car to set a properly competitive pace.Probably a car like the FI, or the TR would be about ideal for a first go leisure drive by an amateur. Solid and stable enough, but not so highly strung that any competitive performance at all is only ex-tractable by a very skilled F1 driver. We saw what happened to Gasly when he went from the TR to the RB...
Didn't the FIA tighten up on the licence required to participate in an F1 test session?
Nowadays I thought that a driver had to qualify (or be on the verge of qualifying) for a Superlicence to be able to take part in an official FIA sanctioned test session, and the only testing allowed for current cars (or cars less than two years old) was sanctioned by the FIA.
Nowadays I thought that a driver had to qualify (or be on the verge of qualifying) for a Superlicence to be able to take part in an official FIA sanctioned test session, and the only testing allowed for current cars (or cars less than two years old) was sanctioned by the FIA.
I don't think Williams are in anyway lacking of the technical abilities or equipment to get a car right.... It was only a few years back they were a competitive mid-field team scoring good, regular points.
IF they get their car philosophy correct, don't screw up the logistics of bits being delivered and cars being readied to test then there is no reason why next years car won't work and they'll make the step back that McLaren have, for example.
The removal of Paddy Lowe, i think, will ensure they get back to where they should be. From what I understand he was more a project manager than a technical guru like Adrian Newey, but he was responsible for the overall technical approach from the car. So the blind leading the blind....
Anyway, one less chief in the way, so the engineers can make a difference, hopefully.
IF they get their car philosophy correct, don't screw up the logistics of bits being delivered and cars being readied to test then there is no reason why next years car won't work and they'll make the step back that McLaren have, for example.
The removal of Paddy Lowe, i think, will ensure they get back to where they should be. From what I understand he was more a project manager than a technical guru like Adrian Newey, but he was responsible for the overall technical approach from the car. So the blind leading the blind....
Anyway, one less chief in the way, so the engineers can make a difference, hopefully.
super7 said:
I don't think Williams are in anyway lacking of the technical abilities or equipment to get a car right.... It was only a few years back they were a competitive mid-field team scoring good, regular points.
IF they get their car philosophy correct, don't screw up the logistics of bits being delivered and cars being readied to test then there is no reason why next years car won't work and they'll make the step back that McLaren have, for example.
The removal of Paddy Lowe, i think, will ensure they get back to where they should be. From what I understand he was more a project manager than a technical guru like Adrian Newey, but he was responsible for the overall technical approach from the car. So the blind leading the blind....
Anyway, one less chief in the way, so the engineers can make a difference, hopefully.
The thing is, a few years ago they had the far and away best engine on the grid in the car, and they only really shone where that was the key. IF they get their car philosophy correct, don't screw up the logistics of bits being delivered and cars being readied to test then there is no reason why next years car won't work and they'll make the step back that McLaren have, for example.
The removal of Paddy Lowe, i think, will ensure they get back to where they should be. From what I understand he was more a project manager than a technical guru like Adrian Newey, but he was responsible for the overall technical approach from the car. So the blind leading the blind....
Anyway, one less chief in the way, so the engineers can make a difference, hopefully.
As others have caught up engine wise and chassis has become more of a differentiator, they’ve slid further and further behind.
Two things they lack IMO. Money and solid, knowledgeable leadership.
REALIST123 said:
super7 said:
I don't think Williams are in anyway lacking of the technical abilities or equipment to get a car right.... It was only a few years back they were a competitive mid-field team scoring good, regular points.
IF they get their car philosophy correct, don't screw up the logistics of bits being delivered and cars being readied to test then there is no reason why next years car won't work and they'll make the step back that McLaren have, for example.
The removal of Paddy Lowe, i think, will ensure they get back to where they should be. From what I understand he was more a project manager than a technical guru like Adrian Newey, but he was responsible for the overall technical approach from the car. So the blind leading the blind....
Anyway, one less chief in the way, so the engineers can make a difference, hopefully.
The thing is, a few years ago they had the far and away best engine on the grid in the car, and they only really shone where that was the key. IF they get their car philosophy correct, don't screw up the logistics of bits being delivered and cars being readied to test then there is no reason why next years car won't work and they'll make the step back that McLaren have, for example.
The removal of Paddy Lowe, i think, will ensure they get back to where they should be. From what I understand he was more a project manager than a technical guru like Adrian Newey, but he was responsible for the overall technical approach from the car. So the blind leading the blind....
Anyway, one less chief in the way, so the engineers can make a difference, hopefully.
As others have caught up engine wise and chassis has become more of a differentiator, they’ve slid further and further behind.
Two things they lack IMO. Money and solid, knowledgeable leadership.
I agree totally about Willis technical ability. I have zero doubt their team can do an excellent job of solving each problem the design of an F1 car poses. Often however, the cost of the ideal solution is quite high and if they're spending half their time arguing with cost controllers about why it's worth the money, then they're facing a constant battle to move forwards and focus on their actual work. That's just one example of how limited budget will hold back technical ability - it inevitably does. A super tight budget is the equivalent of opening up a clockwork machine and pouring in a tin of treacle - everything slows down and takes more effort than it should.
They have the team size and overheads of a top constructor team. They potentially next year have less revenue than HAAS, a team that employs a skeleton staff and buys everything from the dallara parts bin.
Edited by TheDeuce on Thursday 5th December 12:16
2020 must already be a lost season for Williams, I can't see them spending a lot of money developing the 2019 car when they know there is a big shake up coming in 2021.
I think next season will be very telling for the future of the Williams F1 team as we know it, whether they sell up completely or manage to get a big backer in with the funds to develop a 2021 car, they can't carry on as they are.
I think next season will be very telling for the future of the Williams F1 team as we know it, whether they sell up completely or manage to get a big backer in with the funds to develop a 2021 car, they can't carry on as they are.
Gary29 said:
2020 must already be a lost season for Williams, I can't see them spending a lot of money developing the 2019 car when they know there is a big shake up coming in 2021.
I think next season will be very telling for the future of the Williams F1 team as we know it, whether they sell up completely or manage to get a big backer in with the funds to develop a 2021 car, they can't carry on as they are.
Less money this year than last year, which should be just about ok as all they have to do is evolve the car they already have for 2020. So it'll be a slightly less sI think next season will be very telling for the future of the Williams F1 team as we know it, whether they sell up completely or manage to get a big backer in with the funds to develop a 2021 car, they can't carry on as they are.
t, but still st car 
But to develop a ground up 2021 car, which they have to start next year too, that means they need a lot of additional cash in place early next year - it's surely going to cost a fortune to develop the 2021 car even if it's not a very good one, with the new set of regs and concept etc..
So I agree, can't see any way they can carry on as they are and I'd be pretty surprised if there aren't some big changes announced at Williams in the not too distant future. Whatever those changes might be..
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