The Future for Williams, Button etc....

[Dino Scuderia]

There are so many variables in racing that no one element is going to win you races or a championship.

[Jack_Bauer]

There are so many variables in racing that no one element is going to win you races or a championship.

True, it is about the package, no one thing can win a championship. BUT, having said that, one dodgy element can LOSE you a race/championship. Look at poor Kimi Raikkonen - if Mercedes' reliability was as good as it ought to be then Kimi would be right on FA's coat-tails, if not leading the championship. And Ferrari would definitely be a lot more competitive if their Bridgstone tyres were up to scratch.

I'm not saying that is the case with Williams though. The aero balance seems to be every bit as suspect as the BMW powerplant at the moment.

[Dino Scuderia]

True, it is about the package, no one thing can win a championship. BUT, having said that, one dodgy element can LOSE you a race/championship. Look at poor Kimi Raikkonen - if Mercedes' reliability was as good as it ought to be then Kimi would be right on FA's coat-tails, if not leading the championship. And Ferrari would definitely be a lot more competitive if their Bridgstone tyres were up to scratch.

I'm not saying that is the case with Williams though. The aero balance seems to be every bit as suspect as the BMW powerplant at the moment.

This season reliability is the one thing you needed for sure....look at the first few races, Alonso's car finished the first 7 races...no other car even came close.

[Jack_Bauer]

This season reliability is the one thing you needed for sure....look at the first few races, Alonso's car finished the first 7 races...no other car even came close.

I think Tiago Monteiro might have something to say about that! He's finished every single race this season.

[Dino Scuderia]

I think Tiago Monteiro might have something to say about that! He's finished every single race this season.

Ah well I meant the cars that have a chance.

[Cyco]

The problems Williams have is that in generating enough downforce to corner at the same speed as the front runners they have a lot more aero drag.

If this is due to lack of mechanical traction (their traction control runs longer out of a corner than anyone else (and sounds worse)) or just not getting the results out of the wind tunnel/CFD that the other teams have found is anyones guess.

[Dino Scuderia]

Williams says firmly that there hasn't been a BMW engine upgrade all season...that's bad.

[Matra et Alpine]

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=33659

Bernie making it clear that he thinks Button has to go to Williams !!!

[Jack_Bauer]

Interesting article at Pitpass suggesting that Woobens Barrichello is BAR bound for next season. Nothing more than pitlane gossip at the moment but it's interesting to learn that RB and Gil de Ferran are good pals, so maybe he can have an influence in luring him from Maranello.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=25414

Also the article mentions something about "English law" being in favour of Jenson Button in his contract wrangles with Williams. They didn't really explain what they meant by that, anybody got any clues?

[Matra et Alpine]

Interesting article at Pitpass suggesting that Woobens Barrichello is BAR bound for next season. Nothing more than pitlane gossip at the moment but it's interesting to learn that RB and Gil de Ferran are good pals, so maybe he can have an influence in luring him from Maranello.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=25414

Also the article mentions something about "English law" being in favour of Jenson Button in his contract wrangles with Williams. They didn't really explain what they meant by that, anybody got any clues?

Seems Nelson Piquet told the Brazilian press it's on

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=33662

Can't think what the English law bit is about.
But money grabbing lawyers up and down the country claim the European Human Rights legislation can solve any individuals problems. They're likely saying that NOT releasing Jenson is an infringement of his rights. Well he signed a contract, so that would be BS

[fpv_gtho]

Wouldnt they have brought that up last year when this was all de ja vu? Then it was actually worse, as it got to the point he wasnt talking to DR about the situation.

[Jack_Bauer]

Anyone speak Spanish???

With my half-witted knowledge of Spanish I figured that the title to this article from Spanish sports paper Marca is "Mark Webber will not continue with Williams next season." Can anyone please translate the rest and see if it sounds half plausible? It'll probably just be BS, but thought I'd just find out!

http://www.marca.es/edicion/noticia/...659086,00.html

Thanks in advance!

[Cotterik]

quick online translator gives me this:

Mark Webber will stop being pilot of escudería to Williams the next season. The Australian, who had arrived at the British with much force and being one from the promises with but future equipment from the great circus, has not convinced the directors of the equipment, who can cover their hollow with Jenson Button. This news has caused surprise, since it seemed that ` sacrificadó so that Button entered it was going to be Heidfeld, but in the end the German has given high productivity and the continuity in the prestigious British team of Frank has gained Williams.

in other words they think that williams have been more impressed with heidfeld than webber and want to keep him as team-mate for button instead of webber, which would move webber to the BMW team consequently. I have no idea if this is reliable a source

[fpv_gtho]

So another piece of BS in other words

Webbers got a 3 year contract, and considering he hasnt finished his first year with the team, you'd have something wrong in the head to assume he'd be simply dropped

[Cotterik]

Jenson Button has issued a strongly worded rebuttal of allegations that he has behaved improperly in his dealings with Sir Frank Williams.

The Briton released a statement on Monday intended to clarify the sequence of events that has led to the current stalemate over his contractual position for 2006.

The statement began by making it clear that Button told Williams in person that he did not want to drive for him next season.

It read: “Jenson has decided to release this statement as various allegations have been appearing in the media over the past few days casting doubts on his honesty and integrity.”

“Jenson is particularly upset at suggestions that he did not accord Sir Frank Williams the respect due to him by not speaking to him face to face.

“The following factual statements are made to set the record straight: A meeting took place in the Conference Room at Williams' Grove Headquarters at 12 o'clock on Tuesday 12 July 2005.

“This meeting was attended by Jenson personally, together with his Manager, Richard Goddard.

“On the Williams side the meeting was attended by Sir Frank Williams, together with Patrick Head, as well as the Williams chief executive officer Chris Chapple, the Williams technical director Sam Michael, and the Williams in-house lawyer John Healey.

“The meeting lasted about one hour. During the course of the meeting Sir Frank Williams asked Jenson a specific question, ‘From what you are saying it sounds like you don't want to be here next season’.

“To this Jenson replied ‘No, I don't’.

“There is no question of there being any lack of clarity or misunderstanding on this point.”

Button also disputed Williams’ claim that he has changed his mind about where he wants to drive in the space of seven months.

The statement continued: “It has been suggested by Sir Frank Williams that a contract between Jenson and Williams (and there remain outstanding questions as to its validity) was signed seven months ago, which would be in January of this year.

“This is incorrect. There are two documents which are relevant, one dated August 2004, and one dated September 2004.”

Finally, Button claimed he was paid by Williams from 2001-2004 not to enforce a contract entitling him to drive for the Grove-based team.

“Quotes have also been attributed in the media to Sir Frank Williams to say that Williams paid a substantial amount in option money on Jenson in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

“Again, to set the record straight, the facts are as follows: Payments made were not payments made by Williams to retain an option over Jenson's services.

“In fact the payments were quite the opposite. They were payments made by Williams to Jenson in exchange for Jenson agreeing not to enforce a contract which he had entitling him to drive for Williams.”

courtesy of ITV-F1.com