Williams - the new Minardi?

[itsnotagsr]

Is Williams the new Minardi? They've lost their factory engine supplier, didn't get JB, lost their big name sponsor. This has me thinking that they could be the new Minardi unless they pull something very big out of their rear end next year. They've somehow ended up in the situation where they have to pay for everything rather than have people throwing money at them to be part of the family. Given the huge sums involved in F1, surely this is the beginning of a downward spiral as they have to start watching the budget rather than simply writing big cheques to be up the front?

[XAC15T]

They will become mid-pack runners again (just like in the late 90s when they had Mechacrome engines and lost Renault) if the Cosworth V8 sucks teh big one... but they will be back if shit hits the fan, Frank is a stubborn prick :p

[MickyD]

I actually think the cosworth engine could go alright next year.... they've certainly got the experience with v8's that a lot of the other engine suppliers don't necessarily have...

[athlon]

Experience in v8's or v10's is irrelevent i think. A motor is a motor.

The top teams will get the best out of the rules.

[Cplus]

Is Williams the new Minardi?

No


They've lost their factory engine supplier

But got paid out of the contract by them - along with some money for Nick Heidfeld.

yes they have cossie's @ £9M per year, but is that so bad? they were one of the better engines in the pack this year, more reliable and powerful than BMW probably was. Besides, all reports state that even before the ink was dry on the Cossie deal, a deal was signed with Toyota to use Lexus branded engiens next year - this is linked to using Bridgestones also.


didn't get JB

again, got a bundle of money for this - enough to pay for two years worth of engines. he's over rated anyway, Nico has the potential to be jsut as good.


lost their big name sponsor

They would have lost HP regardless- I know this not the context you were saying - and RBS have doubled their cash input for next year.

so they have two major sponsors for next year, one of which will not get their name anywhere on the car ;)


This has me thinking that they could be the new Minardi unless they pull something very big out of their rear end next year

They won't drop half teh field. Even if the car is a bad as this years.


They've somehow ended up in the situation where they have to pay for everything rather than have people throwing money at them to be part of the family

Williams posted a profit for their last financial year (2004) seeing as BMW put no actual cash to the team, and that included contracts for both Ralf and Juan Pablo - I reckon thats not too bad! Heidfeld and Webber collectively were getting paid less than either.


Given the huge sums involved in F1, surely this is the beginning of a downward spiral as they have to start watching the budget rather than simply writing big cheques to be up the front?

Unlikely - refer ideas such as the Lexus deal... People still want to be involved, and they still have good people in the team - the Gearbox guy from BAR even jumped ship to work with Frank.

I think you've been reading too much AtlasF1 posts :D

Cheers,

C+

[Zac]

Yeah I almost did that headbanging gif while reading Atlas this morning.

Losing JB was the best thing that ever happened to Williams :)

I don't expect Williams to be outright competitive next year. Considering how the rules will very likely be changing substantially again and so will their engine in 2007 it would be somewhat risky to build a revolutionary car for next year. A conservative but progressive year would certainly not spell the financial or competition death of the team for the reasons Cplus has given.

[2ofdem]

They are starting with a clean slate and from what I have read they arent in too bad a shape financially. The chassis wasnt all that bad the aero was horrific but improved alot the engine was the limiting factor alot of the time this coming year with a strong engine manufacturer (one of the better engines of 2005) with a point to prove and potential customers to impress I think they will do well.

[2ofdem]

Oh yeah I dont rate JB all that highly and believe the only reason he gets attention is because 90% of the press outside of europe for F1 originates from the UK.

[Nafe]

Webber > Nico> JB > Karthikeyan > Sato :D

[sejanus]

I'm actually (cautiously) optimistic about the next years car.

[Cplus]

were you not about the 05 car in March??

[sejanus]

no

[AndyMac]

I agree with Sejanus.

A team with the history of Williams won't make the same mistakes twice. I would assume that they will make sure twice that every "i" is dotted and every "t" crossed.

I think they will surprise next year.

[Cplus]

yes - they have sacked the bitch that drew the walrus and the work experience kid that calibrated the wind tunnel.

[slo360]

Williams will be fine, so long as Webber finds a lucky streak somewhere, failing that you can always hope Nico can drive.

but as ive questioned the great one i shall don a flame suit an run

cheers

[bigmuz]

JB= fair weather friend- not the sort of bloke you need amidst so much change and uncertainty.

I think the money issues are a worry, but if they sniff success they won't have problems sourcing some more $- shit, it works in other formulae, why not F1, as long as the core development budget is covered.

[1980rx-7]

williams should be fine with the ford cosworth v8 being a very good motor and cosworth have renowned success with their v8 in other formulas of motor racing. Also keke rosbergs son should be a good adition to the team and should motivate webber a bit more

[Zac]

It's not a Ford Cosworth V8.

[intehnet]

Experience in v8's or v10's is irrelevent i think. A motor is a motor.

nup. not when we're talking high stress motors here.. different piston speeds , block designs (etc) than a V10

having said that, a F1 car is more than just a sum of it's parts, it all has to work together seamlessly.. hope franks boys can put together a good chassis to suit the shorter and lighter V8 motor

[itsnotagsr]

They're on Bridgestones right? Lets hope they pull their finger out this year!

[Nafe]

Tyre changes during races are back for 2006 IIRC, so that should put them back on a more even keel than the Michelins.