Willis gone?

f1.redbaron · Post 20 Jun 2006, 16:15

Nowhere does it say that he was fired, but it seems like not only will he not be with the Honda next year, but he lost his position as the Technical Director. Anybody got any more info on that?

http://www.f1technical.net/news/3326

RH1300S · Post 20 Jun 2006, 16:31

It does look like his position is "under discussion" as some people say.......the signs are there aren't they.

Principessa · Post 20 Jun 2006, 17:27

It's really weird. First he was replaced for the GP's by Belgian Eeckeleart (

http://www.f1technical.net/news/3295) and now he's also lost his title as senior technical director. There is something up, that's for sure.

f1.redbaron · Post 20 Jun 2006, 19:36

I guess that they're following in Toyota's footsteps

m3_lover · Post 20 Jun 2006, 19:55

I would have thought Nick Fry would get the can too.

DaveKillens · Post 20 Jun 2006, 22:08

Just like a sports coach, if you don't achieve positive results, expect to be sacked. Honda has seriously underperformed from the first race of the season, and changes have to be made.

m3_lover · Post 20 Jun 2006, 22:16

How can they be so good in testing but crappy in a race, just like toyota before the start of the season in winter testing. Does anybody have any ideas?

Post 20 Jun 2006, 22:51

m3_lover wrote:How can they be so good in testing but crappy in a race, just like toyota before the start of the season in winter testing. Does anybody have any ideas?

under weight cars

jaslfc · Post 21 Jun 2006, 08:52

maybe renault and ferrari dont show the true potential of the car during test. for a few years now honda has been so promising in test. Another issue is honda has always been fast over 1 lap but cannot have the same consistent speed during a race stint

Principessa · Post 21 Jun 2006, 10:00

Yes Jaslfc, You just have to look at Barrichello to know that Honda laks speed during the race.

Principessa · Post 21 Jun 2006, 14:14

Appearantly Willis left himself: http://www.f1technical.net/news/3334

NickT · Post 21 Jun 2006, 16:49

m3_lover wrote:I would have thought Nick Fry would get the can too.

Have to agree there, in fact I would go as far as to say that Fry should have left before Willis. Afterall the team's poor performance in the pits this year has cost them a lot more the design has

Sounds like politics and scape goats again

Hmmm..... Mike G and Jeff W on gardening/sailing leave. It would be very interesting to see how they would work together, question is where will they will end up

Just read this one http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns16989.htm and this one, from "The Mole", makes interesting reading to http://www.grandprix.com/mole/mole16988.htmll

West · Post 22 Jun 2006, 07:31

Japanese conspiracies abound this year

Spencifer_Murphy · Post 22 Jun 2006, 10:30

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=36342

It would appear that he really has gone. Its pretty much all but confirmed.

I must agree that I also wish Nick Fry would go. He always seems to come across as a bit arrogant and "I know best". For example at Australia when JPM was making his way to the front atfer spinning on the warm up, TV coverage showed him angrily shaking his head arms folded like he knew better than those enforcing the rules. (In the end JPM recieved no penalty as the race stewards saw nothing wrong with it!)

Also I find Honda less in touch with the fans with Fry running the show as opposed to when Richards was. Fry is ever the politician, dodging questions or just not answering them. "Why's Jenson so slow", "We've been testing and have found the problem it will be fixed" (still no answer as to WHY the car is slow) next race "So its not fixed is it Nick?" "well, I think our pace was alright, there's definately some improvement, Jenson had a problem with a fly buzzing around in the cockpit, which added weight to the car, this was of course before one of the pit crew battered him over the head with the lollypop"

Obviously none of that is actual quote, but its a satirical imprression that I get from him...I just dont like him.

On a less personal note, I find it a little interesting as how BAR had a bumper year with Dave Richards at the helm in 2004, 2005 comes along with Nick Fry and everything goes down the pan.

ginsu · Post 22 Jun 2006, 10:49

Y'know, David Richards always had a real presence about him, and there were consequences with him if things didn't go right. With DR there was accountability. He really played the part well with Jenson too, and I know Jense and DR didn't get along too well, but hey, look how well they were doing then. Do you think Jense is happy now? He looks more upset and deflated than ever, I don't think he really believes in the car, and I think his confidence with the team is slipping.

Nick Fry has no conviction, he will say whatever he needs to say. Willis has very little presence, there just seems to be no driving force with the team. I like Gil, but he doesn't seem to have the effect I would like him to have.

But, I have to say it, I knew this would happen when they sacked DR. People loose faith when they loose a leader. DR was a great leader, I think he's on par with Flavio personally, and we'll see what he can do with ProDrive in F1 real soon.