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F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: Dare on April 21, 2019, 02:46:14 PM

Title: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Dare on April 21, 2019, 02:46:14 PM
Clair needs to share the blame too. She's proven to
me she doesn't have what it takes to run William's

https://www.planetf1.com/news/kubica-williams-issues-not-all-lowes-fault/
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: guest3164 on April 21, 2019, 04:50:15 PM
I disagree as if we are to blame her now, we need to congratulate her on the run of form where the team came 3rd for two consecutive seasons. 
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Jericoke on April 21, 2019, 05:30:29 PM
I disagree as if we are to blame her now, we need to congratulate her on the run of form where the team came 3rd for two consecutive seasons.

The buck stops with Claire, win or lose. I'd love to see her with continued success, but as long as they're not succeeding, it's up to Claire to either fix it, or hand things over to someone else.

I don't think she has to go, but she does need to oversee a rebuild of the operation.  (Note, this doesn't mean replacing all the employees, it's entirely possible they have all the right people, just need a new perspective to bring it all together)
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: guest3164 on April 21, 2019, 05:36:54 PM
She is not the technical director nor is she actually team principal, that is still technically Frank.  It is also why Patrick Head has been drafted back in.  However, she did a good enough job a few years ago and I do not think many people thought it would go so badly when Lowe was brought in along with Dirk de Beer.  I refuse to throw her under the bus when in my mind she has tried to the right moves, moves I think most would have thought sensible.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Dare on April 21, 2019, 10:12:49 PM
Ferrari throws you under the bus even with
good results. Frank doesn't have anything
to do with what's going on now...IMO

You can't blame the tire changer on William's
woes. They need to get people that know how to
win.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Andy B on April 21, 2019, 10:20:25 PM
Paddy cannot have gone from good at Mercedes to bad at Williams so quickly so there needs to be a bigger problem and what that is cannot be seen from the outside!
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Dare on April 21, 2019, 10:42:45 PM
Paddy cannot have gone from good at Mercedes to bad at Williams so quickly so there needs to be a bigger problem and what that is cannot be seen from the outside!

I think having ones head in the sand might
explain it. Having a car not ready for testing
is inexcusable. The other teams had the same
time frame and their's were ready
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: lkjohnson1950 on April 22, 2019, 01:26:36 AM
I think it comes down to aero. Williams doesn't have a good aero designer/engineer and without down force you're nowhere. Claire could be the best team Principle, Lowe the best Director and without a Newey they'd be DOA.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Willy on April 22, 2019, 01:47:53 PM
I watched a speech Claire gave to her team members at the start of the 2018 season and it was, or should have been, a motivational speech to give the team incentive and drive to succeed. It was nothing like that at all. It was lacklustre and depressing. Claire has no idea how to get people fired up about the Williams team and shoud be gone. Very,very rarely do family members who are given the reins from the original member who had the vison and drive to get an organization up and succceding, have what it takes go carry on successfully. Clearly Claire does not have the ability and she should step back and concentrate on motherhood as her young children need her and F1 does not.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Dare on April 22, 2019, 06:56:42 PM
When my uncle retired he left a siding business he
had for forty years to his son. It was bankrupt in 3 years
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Monty on April 24, 2019, 12:42:25 PM
From what I have heard through some contacts, Frank is still involved - he still has final say in hiring & firing and budget decisions. It must be really difficult for Claire (his daughter) to stand up to him.
If it is true that she was instrumental in bringing the sponsors (Martini and now RoKit) she clearly does deserve her position. Personally I do think Paddy was the problem. He felt over-shadowed in the Mercedes management team and wanted to show that he had the technical ability to manage the design of a good car. Unfortunately he was not as good as he thought - or he wasn't allowed to do exactly what he wanted. We will probably never know! Clearly the biggest problem Williams have is lack of money. I think it is almost inevitable now that they will have to accept a total acquisition or a 'buy-in' from someone with deep pockets if they are going to survive.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Jericoke on April 24, 2019, 03:11:59 PM
From what I have heard through some contacts, Frank is still involved - he still has final say in hiring & firing and budget decisions. It must be really difficult for Claire (his daughter) to stand up to him.
If it is true that she was instrumental in bringing the sponsors (Martini and now RoKit) she clearly does deserve her position. Personally I do think Paddy was the problem. He felt over-shadowed in the Mercedes management team and wanted to show that he had the technical ability to manage the design of a good car. Unfortunately he was not as good as he thought - or he wasn't allowed to do exactly what he wanted. We will probably never know! Clearly the biggest problem Williams have is lack of money. I think it is almost inevitable now that they will have to accept a total acquisition or a 'buy-in' from someone with deep pockets if they are going to survive.

If Frank is still in charge (and I agree, there's really not reason to believe he isn't), it must be frustrating for both Williams's.  He puts in the work, but can't be there, she has to be there, but can't put in the work.  I'm going to guess that their working relationship is a healthy one, or else she would step away.

The key is the budget.  You certainly don't need to have the biggest budget to compete, but it makes things much easier.  There does seem to be a new wave of billionaires interested in entering the sport.  I'd hate to see Williams simply replaced by someone new, but a smart investor must know that building on Williams is smarter than starting from scratch.  (Although following the Haas template must be tempting)
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: John S on April 25, 2019, 11:20:25 PM
Jeri following the Haas model is very difficult, who else out there is able to construct an F1 car under contract?  :DntKnw:

They can't use Dallara as each chassis manufacturer can only construct one teams F1 car.
Dallara is the biggest part of how Haas model works - not necessarily their tie up with Ferrari - as far as I can see. 
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: guest3164 on April 26, 2019, 01:28:55 PM
Today was definitely not Lowe's fault.  Nope, we can firmly blame the Baku race track for the latest calamity to hit the team.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: cosworth151 on April 26, 2019, 03:21:55 PM
Between the manhole cover & the crane smacking the bridge, it sure doesn't look like a well run race. I hope the promoters will have to pay Williams for the damage.

I doubt they will, but I can always hope.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Dare on April 26, 2019, 03:32:06 PM
Between the manhole cover & the crane smacking the bridge, it sure doesn't look like a well run race. I hope the promoters will have to pay Williams for the damage.

I doubt they will, but I can always hope.


That has  to put a dent in their budget.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Alianora La Canta on April 26, 2019, 03:47:21 PM
Malaysia had to pay Haas for drain cover-related damage back in 2017, so the precedent is there for Azerbaijan to pay Williams for its contribution to the parts shortage.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: guest3164 on April 26, 2019, 04:10:26 PM
Exactly Alia, Williams will be using all kinds of legal threats if Baku do not follow that precedent.  Add in the fact that damaged crane then leaked oil and fluid onto the already stricken Williams.  Not good at all.
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Jericoke on April 26, 2019, 05:56:10 PM
Malaysia had to pay Haas for drain cover-related damage back in 2017, so the precedent is there for Azerbaijan to pay Williams for its contribution to the parts shortage.

My car insurance promises to replace my car with one of 'equal or greater' value. 

Since there is no spare Williams of equal value, maybe a spare Ferrari or Mercedes of greater value is available?
 :tease:
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: guest3164 on April 26, 2019, 08:13:22 PM
I like the sound of that Jeri!
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: cosworth151 on April 26, 2019, 10:53:42 PM
Williams is seeking payment for the damages:

https://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/williams-f1-team-seek-compensation-damage-suffered-track-drain-cover
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: guest3164 on April 27, 2019, 05:11:18 PM
Oh come on, as if the weekend wasn't bad enough, Kubica bins his car in Q1  :nono:
Title: Re: Williams isues not all Lowe's fault
Post by: Alianora La Canta on April 28, 2019, 09:13:36 AM
Baku has manhole cover drainage insurance (I'd link to the RaceFans article but I'm trying to avoid Formula E spoilers), so I think money-wise, Williams is fine.

I'm more worried about whether there are enough spare tubs for the race (I'm sure a new spare will need making for Barcelona).
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