Manoah2u wrote: ↑08 May 2018, 18:59
Williams is virtually history. If Martini would have stayed, it would have been different, but that's not the case and that's a big sponsor gap they are not going to fill.
Dady Stroll has been pouring in millions to no avail. They hired Paddy Lowe with the idea it would bring them a competitive car again, but severely overestimated what he can do in such short timespan - nobody can, not even newey. Meanwhile, Lowe is not cheap, so more money 'disappears'. Stroll isn't that big of a deal, he's not bad at all, but despite some lucky and some hopeful performances last year, he isn't any better than the likes of Ericsson for example - not a star driver that can squeeze the most out of the car. They now have resorted to full paydriver lineup to pay the bills, and have Kubica for input and experience to atleast have some intelligence in the cars. They had to lay off Massa, so more loss of knowledge and intelligence.
Their situation now is grim; for years they have been dangling about, with a suprise jump in 2014 thanks to the Mercedes engine, Bottas, and surely Toto's (indirect) involvement through Susie and Bottas and Martini's money, paired to Massa's experience. Unfortunately, it's still ran by the same incompetence (yes, i'm talking Claire here) and meanwhile, Renault and especially Ferrari have gigantically improved their engines AND likewise other teams so their initial 'benefit' has disappeared like snow in the sun.
And on top of that, they already have been losing quite some sponsors, are losing more, and also are losing Martini after this season.
both drivers are absolutely crap and the competition is ferocious.
Something seriously need to happen there. If not, they're going to fumble.
If they're smart, they'll accept being a Mercedes B-team for a few years so they can get things sorted out again. Live on that, ditch crap drivers, get good Merc drivers (like Ocon), and restructure and abandon the failing concept they've been persuing for a while now. IF for some reason Mercedes' decides to pull the plug from the F1 main team (AMG), then they're in the hot seat for becoming essentially the 'works' team - like Mclaren once was.
Or, start talking to Honda.
Either way, Spain is not going to be any good for them. The other teams are in much better positions and there is not going to be such spectacular circumstances as in Baku. Not to mention Sirotkin didn't even last a lap there. He's dead last in the standings. Atleast stroll has learned to take less risks and drive more carefully and that has brought him points in Baku - even though he still lucked in hugely due to the chaotic race.
Grosjean's dumbass crash, Max and Danny's clash, Niko's dumbass crash, and Bottas' total non-luck and all the safety car situations provided a platform for points. In all reality, 15th would have been the right finish position.
I don't see how they're going to improve or overcome the issues this year - whilst the competition improves and invests hugely too, whilst they simply can't.
for 2019 they're going to have to run more or less this years car the way this is going - so only worse.
anything they do now is simply to get attention in some session in the hopes they atleast get some viewtime and some talk. it's hardly going to matter which tires they'll run during the race imho. they're not going to be able to be competitive. they'd be better off in tuning things down and saving parts, wings, and engine mileage, and save it for potential chaotic quallys and races. Monaco for example, if they can qualify in a good position there, knowing overtaking is really hard there, virtually impossible, they'll need to use all they have for strategy and power, and hope/expect people in front (max, danny, vettel, kimi, ocon, perez) to make contact/crash and benefit from that.
totally outside of williams though - i hope Sainz or Alonso wins.
