Thread: The future of Williams

Originally Posted by jens

I wouldn't let Maldonado go, just not yet. Even regardless of the money he is bringing with him, he has shown plenty of potential. I think he just needs some coaching and driver mindset training. Is that what Wurz was hired for by Williams? In any case, historically Williams hasn't been particularly fond of supporting and improving drivers. I don't know, which kind of discussions they have been having in the team, but this is what they should do right now. Instead of sacking another driver without having done everything to fulfill his potential...

I agree. Why on earth should Williams let Maldonado go when he has actually won a race and is quick if erratic. Bit like Andrea De Cesaris at his best. The one who needs to go is Senna, he is wasting a good car and should be replaced by Bottas immediately. He qualifies low and keeps touching cars in the races.

Originally Posted by DexDexter

The one who needs to go is Senna, he is wasting a good car and should be replaced by Bottas immediately. He qualifies low and keeps touching cars in the races.

Bruno needs to improve, no doubt, but this is his first full F1 season. The evidence of his F3 & GP2 career shows that he progresses well and produces results so talk of replacing him immediately is far too premature IMHO.

Even though I am still annoyed at Pastor for his boneheaded move on Lewis, I agree he shouldn't be replaced. He has shown a lot of potential but needs to start to learn now if he wants to stay in F1. There have been too many stupid stunts so far and the last Williams needs is another egotistical JPM. I was a huge fan of Montoya but he couldn't keep his big head and apathetic attitude out of the car. Pastor needs to fess up to his mistakes and knuckle down.

As for Bruno, I agree. Give him a bit more time to see how he settles. Next year will see whether he's a keeper.

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Bruno needs to improve, no doubt, but this is his first full F1 season. The evidence of his F3 & GP2 career shows that he progresses well and produces results so talk of replacing him immediately is far too premature IMHO.

He has driven 33 F1 races and you are telling me that Williams should keep him based on his F3 and GP2 results??

Originally Posted by Knock-on

As for Bruno, I agree. Give him a bit more time to see how he settles. Next year will see whether he's a keeper.

Bruno has proven nothing so far in his F1 career. He is qualifying poorly and scoring no points in an occasionally front-running car, and you think that next year we should evaluate whether or not he should be on the grid...

Hopefully Williams have more sense than that.

Originally Posted by DexDexter

The one who needs to go is Senna, he is wasting a good car and should be replaced by Bottas immediately. He qualifies low and keeps touching cars in the races.

If he makes rapid improvement then there's no problem, but he should definitely be told he won't finish the season at his current rate.

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Bruno needs to improve, no doubt, but this is his first full F1 season. The evidence of his F3 & GP2 career shows that he progresses well and produces results so talk of replacing him immediately is far too premature IMHO.

That maybe true but it's clear that Williams is a good car and the drivers are not taking full advantage of it. I admit I'm somewhat bias in this case since I want too see Valtteri Bottas on the grid cause I think he is the next Finnish WDC

Originally Posted by Matthew

He has driven 33 F1 races and you are telling me that Williams should keep him based on his F3 and GP2 results??

No. I am saying that his F3 and GP2 results indicate an ability to learn and develop as a driver, and to produce results particularly given his late start in the sport.

He may have competed in 33 F1 races, but I don't see HRT (or Hispania Racing as they were then) being any kind of barometer of ability. Renault was rather different. In his first race for them at Spa he qualified 7th, something a certain Schumacher did in his F1 debut. (No, I'm not claiming Bruno is as good as Michael!!)

Prior to Spain this season Senna had scored more points than Maldonado and was seen by many as doing a good job for the team. Obviously Pastor's win changed things. It has put more pressure on Senna. He is driving a car capable of winning races (on a given day) and podiums which, obviously, he has not yet produced.

So, from my point of view Senna could be doing better but I think he has the ability to do so, and should be given the time to do so.

Senna should finish the season, no point in rushing Bottas to the car.

I loved the job Pastor did on Hamilton, right in the side.....bish bash bosh!!!!

Originally Posted by DexDexter

I agree. Why on earth should Williams let Maldonado go when he has actually won a race and is quick if erratic.

As the old adage goes, much easier to get a fast driver to stop crashing than to get a slow driver to go fast.

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Prior to Spain this season Senna had scored more points than Maldonado and was seen by many as doing a good job for the team. Obviously Pastor's win changed things. It has put more pressure on Senna. He is driving a car capable of winning races (on a given day) and podiums which, obviously, he has not yet produced.

Seen by many? I wonder who you are referring to. Senna has failed pretty bad this year, has he even been faster than Maldo in qualy? Just because he lucked into some points doesn't change the fact that Maldonado has been MUCH faster than him in pretty much every race. I like both drivers to be honest, but there is no denying, Senna has been quite bad. He has no pace, Maldonado is maybe a little too agressive, but better agressive than a coward who let's other drivers push him around.

Originally Posted by Garry Walker

Just because he lucked into some points doesn't change the fact that Maldonado has been MUCH faster than him in pretty much every race.

I agree Maldonado has been faster, but equally he has made errors costing the team valuable points in Australia and Valencia, errors which are reminiscent of the kind of driving I believe he was prone to in GP2. There are also those who argued he "lucked into" his win in Spain. I certainly wouldn't argue that because I think it was probably one of the drives of the year so far, but without it on points there wouldn't be much between the two Williams drivers.

As I said I think Senna has to improve, but talk of replacing him now, or at anytime before the end of the season when he will have had a year to prove himself, is misplaced IMHO.

I'd say for Senna to go on and finish the season, I think there's more to come of him! Then Williams can determine whether or not to keep Senna. Maldonado has already proven that he is a keeper with his win, I think. There's more potential in both drivers, so Bottas shouldn't be rushed in as it is.

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

I agree Maldonado has been faster, but equally he has made errors costing the team valuable points in Australia and Valencia, errors which are reminiscent of the kind of driving I believe he was prone to in GP2.

He didn't make any error in Valencia.

There are also those who argued he "lucked into" his win in Spain. I certainly wouldn't argue that because I think it was probably one of the drives of the year so far, but without it on points there wouldn't be much between the two Williams drivers.

Once again you say "there are those who have argued he lucked into his win at spain", but who are those? Some nobodies posting at internet forums don't count.
Points are points, but pacewise there has been no contest and Maldo has been MUCH faster.

As I said I think Senna has to improve, but talk of replacing him now, or at anytime before the end of the season when he will have had a year to prove himself, is misplaced IMHO.

Well, I'd give him till the end of season, but if he shows no improvement in the next races then I would dump him before the end of the season actually

Originally Posted by GravettFan99

I'd say for Senna to go on and finish the season, I think there's more to come of him! Then Williams can determine whether or not to keep Senna. Maldonado has already proven that he is a keeper with his win, I think. There's more potential in both drivers, so Bottas shouldn't be rushed in as it is.

The problem for Williams is that this year is probably the only year they'll have a car that can win races. Sooner or later the status quo will return and Williams may look back and realize that the team's drivers wasted a golden opportunity to finish high in the constructor's championship and earn a lot of dough for the team and safeguard its future.

Originally Posted by DexDexter

The problem for Williams is that this year is probably the only year they'll have a car that can win races. Sooner or later the status quo will return

Why is that? What is going to change in 2013 for example that others are going to cope better than Williams?

IMHO, the "status quo" was broken because the cars are so equalized. Engines? Frozen and re-equalized more than once. 10 out of 12 teams have access to race and championship winning engines. This situation is a far cry from say the early 90s when Renault dominated other engines by far and for most teams it was extremely hard to get hands on an engine built by a major car company. Aero restrictions are also very tight. Blown diffusers are gone. Tires are the same. Even if car A is faster than car B, tires will not always let the car A run away. Now you have cars like Lotus, Sauber, and Williams breathing down the neck of leading teams and waiting for them to make one little mistake. I thought KERS will be the system that will separate the affluent and technically sophisticated teams from others, but so far it seems like KERS hasn't been the great divider I thought it will be. If the rules and tires don't change much for 2013, then I think we will see a repeat of 2012 in many ways. However, 2014 could be a game changer.

Originally Posted by aryan

Why is that? What is going to change in 2013 for example that others are going to cope better than Williams?

The top teams with more money and resources will understand the tires better, for example. Williams have less money and talent than Red Bull, it will show under normal circumstances. You can already see it: in Valencia Red Bull was suddenly well clear of everybody else in quali and the race.

Originally Posted by zako85

If the rules and tires don't change much for 2013, then I think we will see a repeat of 2012 in many ways.

Who knows, every season is unique in its own way. After 2011 and big gaps between teams one wouldn't have expected such a close 2012. Especially without major rule changes. And if someone mentions EBD, then well, some team may easily find a major innovational advantage for 2013 and we would see a repeat of 2011 again.

Originally Posted by jens

Who knows, every season is unique in its own way. After 2011 and big gaps between teams one wouldn't have expected such a close 2012. Especially without major rule changes. And if someone mentions EBD, then well, some team may easily find a major innovational advantage for 2013 and we would see a repeat of 2011 again.

I think Williams has a pretty solid line-up, besides, there are 12 races left for this year, and alot can happen in the long time duration. These two are proving more than the very experienced Felipe Massa ()is at the moment, however.