Nico Rosberg

[FW14B]

How good do we think he has been this year?  Yes he has outqualified Wurz in every race so far (but that is not seemingly a hard thing to do), and he has done some fantastic things with the Williams this year.  Is he good enough to mount a championship offensive, are these rumours of him to Ferrari even more sensational than they currently appear? 

[raindancer]

I doubt if he can get into ferrari for next year. Kimi has a pretty water tight contract and I don't think ferrari will do away with Massa. They probably will have to pay Kimi a lot of money if they want him out.
BMW have re signed Heidfeld. There is a seat vacant at Toyota. Would he want to go there and probably one more will fall vacant next year.
I also expect Fisi also to be out of a seat for next year. He has been given many opportunities and has been soundly been beaten by his team mates over the years.
Barrichello also may be leaving at the end of this year from Honda inspite of his contract.

[cosworth151]

I think Toyota or Honda would be a downhill move for him. With Ferrari, McLaren and BMW-Sauber locked up for next year, about his only chance would be if something opens up at Renault.

[Chameleon]

What's wrong with him staying at Williams?  The Toyota engine is fine (not Williams' fault that the factory team don't know how to use it) and Williams appear to be getting their design act together again.  Could be the car to beat next year...

[Dare]

I'd like him to stay at Williams too.Seems the onlt
thing holding Williams back is funding.

[FW14B]

Don't get me wrong, I was just thinking ability wise.  I'd obviously love for him to stay at Williams next year (and beyond) as he is an immensely talented driver and I think in the current situation my team would struggle to get anyone near as good as him in a seat.

[raindancer]

But ! What are the chances that Williams will become a competitive team in the near future ?

[FW14B]

You want the answer from me with the Williams cap on, or off  ?

[cosworth151]

I packed all my Williams kit away at the end of last season. Sadly, they don't stand a chance as long as they're stuck with the worst engines on the grid.

[raindancer]

You want the answer from me with the Williams cap on, or off  ?

Honest Assesment.

[FW14B]

I think it is possible Williams could move forward, maybe to compete for fourth place in the constructors championship next season.  The people are there, and the marketing department seems to be aiming way above where the team is in terms of results, so money isn't as bad as it perhaps was.  The Toyota engine isn't too bad, but recently it has been the cars aerodynamics that have let the car down, so I think this is the area that needs most work on.  I think Nico's performances have shown the car is not too bad this year, mainly luck has worked against him.  If Wurz was more consistent in qualifying then I think Williams would be regularly scoring more points.  But I think 4th is the best the team can aim for unless Toyota fully back the team or we switch to another manufacturer once the Toyota deal has ended. 

[raindancer]

To look at it further. The fact that Williams has a Aero problem means that they have to achieve significant progress in that Department, Also the fact that they are or were good at building chassis and that is where they seem to floundering is an important point and they also don't have any serious budget worries.
Regarding engines they do not have many options. Mercedes, BMW may not be keen on supplying engines to them and Ferrai and Honda already are supplying. That leaves Renault.
I think Williams has a uphill struggle on their hands.

[rmassart]

Sad as it is, unless Williams can tie themselves to a serious manufacturer in the next couple of years they will go the way of Lotus. Frank Williams and Patrick Head aren't the youngest anymore either so that won't help either unless they can sort themselves out with a manufacturer.

[FW14B]

I think the thing for Williams would be to exploit manufacturers who are not currently in F1, but it would be difficult to attract them in if Frank and Patrick show any stubborness like they did with BMW.  I imagine had Frank let BMW have a little more control, and having seen how well BMW has done these last two years, the Williams-BMW partnership could have challenged for titles.  But, which manufacturers out there would be interested in coming into F1 or would also be competitive enough to challenge?  It will be tough for Williams, but they've been through tough times and come through them.  Hopefully this will be another such situation.