We will see if Lawrence Stroll's associates in the Consortium will let him run the team around his son. If they do that, it will be catastrophe before long, IMO. Force India has been doing rather well these last few years because it had 2 experienced and steady drivers. Put Lance Stroll in the mix, and you take away half of the strength.
This puts Williams in a dangerous spot. No sponsor, no pay driver, no big money due to lack of points. They ended last year with 5MM Euro in the bank, they will not be so fortunate this year.
They may keep Sirotkin and its sponsor SMP, perhaps? I cannot see a stampede of drivers (paying or not) wanting to join Williams, nor of sponsors. In any case, the team will still have inexperienced drivers next years, and will be rarely in the points. This looks like the last few years of Tyrrell, and that was shocking to watch.
Williams appears to be running on fumes. I can't see how they can survive without some sort of lifeline?
Maybe Williams to become the Mercedes "junior team" as rumoured with FI in the past??? First they already work with them and PR wise it would be great for Mercedes to become the savior of the traditional Williams team, showing how much they care about F1...
It's amazing how fast they've gone down. The vultures have been circling over them for a long time, but it may be they finally swoop in.
Here is hoping that Lance will do a seat swap with Ocon still this season. Would love to see him in a better car and getting some points.
I don't wish that on Ocon ! He is s good driver; why do you want to take him off a good car to put him driving a turd ? He doesn't deserve that, no more than Perez. I don't think a car can make a difference with Stroll Jr; he doesn't have the basic racecraft to be a good driver whatever money you throw at him. He will be the weakest link, wherever he goes.
If anything that’s why they lost Stroll’s money, because they didn’t want to be a mere Mercedes B team apparently so more likely Stroll will do that with FI now
I don´t know, but what is their alternative? Maybe now that Stroll leaves they have to swallow their pride and go that way.
Most likely. They get the engines from MB and for 2019 gearboxes as well. MB will have to revamp the whole team; can't understand the issue with Paddy Lowe though??? Perplexed.
Only way I see Williams surviving is to persuade some new manufacturer to join them like Mclaren did with Honda (but better possibly)
So they have to survive at least until the new engine formula is coming because until then no new player will enter the arena...
Yep but could start getting a money injection right away if the deal was done. Porsche, where are you?
https://www.planetf1.com/news/villeneuve-stroll-has-put-final-nail-in-williams-coffin/ Lawrence Stroll, father of Williams driver, Lance, is at the forefront of a consortium who are in the process of taking over at Force India, who were placed into administration ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Lance will no doubt follow his father to Force India and take their considerable wealth with them. And that factor, plus the imminent departure of main sponsor Martini, is going to leave Williams in a whole lot of trouble according to the former World Champion. “The loss not only of Lawrence, but also the sponsor (Martini) is probably the final nail in the coffin,” Villeneuve told Le Journal de Montreal. “They’ll then lose a lot of TV rights because they’ll be at the bottom of the championship. Even pay drivers won’t want to spend money there. “Force India is a better organisation than Williams. They only stopped developing this year because they can’t afford it. “Lawrence has always made brands grow. It’s one of his strengths. He couldn’t do it at Williams because he was not the owner, but his influence will be greater at Force India. “He will help them. Force India remained a racing team, unlike Williams.” Villeneuve has also called for Lance Stroll to move to Force India as soon as the takeover is officially complete and get a head start with his new team. “Lance should finish the season at Force India. He should not wait. He should drive in Belgium at the end of the month,” Villeneuve added. “The car is better and he would be able to get a head start on next year, and improve his driving style with Force India’s engineers.”
Putting Lance Stroll in a Force India is just like giving a kick in the teeth to Ocon or Perez. None of them deserves that. Beside, the team will suffer. I cannot see a case for it ...oh yeah, massaging Lance's ego...
I may look cold-hearted but I think Williams should die of natural death and not be kept on a life support machine anymore. It should go the way Lotus, Brabham, ane many other team have gone ...
Williams is worth saving as much as Force India was. 2 weak teams with no money. One might be a touch more efficient but neither are going to win anytime soon.
