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3 Sep 2020, 12:16 (Ref:3999797) | #1726 | |
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So if you look at both the statement from Claire and the articles about this, it says that the Williams family is stepping back from F1. Additionally the focus seems to be primarily on Claire, but clearly Frank is mentioned. But no mention of Jonathan. Its my understanding he has been running the Williams Heritage collection and that was part of the collateral with the Latifi family. But an earlier post is saying that Dorilton has paid off the Latifi loan, so I assume Dorilton owns the collection along with the F1 team.
In short, where is Jonathan in all of this? Why is he not mentioned in any of this? On a side note, I am currently unable to reach either the Williams F1 or Williams Heritage websites. Not sure if that is me or them. Maybe reworking the site, maybe load issues? (Edit, sites are up, must have been temporary) Richard Last edited by Richard C; 3 Sep 2020 at 12:25. |
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3 Sep 2020, 13:24 (Ref:3999816) | #1727 | |||
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3 Sep 2020, 13:35 (Ref:3999818) | #1728 | ||
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Yeah, Jonathan seems to be very much a figure on the periphery of things. Judging by the Williams documentary on TV a couple of years ago, he was portrayed (maybe wrongly?) as someone in charge of a warehouse full of bits and pieces from the old historic cars, which is of no relevance to the current team at all.
It's not entirely unexpected that the new owners would want to install someone new in at the top and I guess this is the beginning of a restructuring that will hopefully lead to the team being at the sharp end of the grid again. |
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3 Sep 2020, 13:48 (Ref:3999821) | #1729 | ||
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I suspect that the only change is exactly as indicated and that is Claire's exit and that Frank (as I say above) was already not part of the management structure at time of purchase. That assuming Jonathan is still with the Heritage side, there is no public decision as of yet. Assuming the relationship between the family and the new owners is generally good, I can imagine Jonathan potentially remaining with the Heritage side? Does that side generate any revenue? Richard |
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3 Sep 2020, 13:50 (Ref:3999823) | #1730 | |
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Be interesting to see who is put in charge.
I’ve heard two names suggested. One could be good, the other dodgy. |
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3 Sep 2020, 13:52 (Ref:3999824) | #1731 | |||
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The Williams family will leave the team [...] Williams and his daughter Claire, the deputy team principal, are stepping down. [...] Claire Williams said: "With the future of the team now secured, this feels like the appropriate time for us to step away from the sport." It may be that the team is the only part of the organisation that the article writers are focusing on - or could mean that the rest of the business(es) will continue to operate as before. To me, it seems to be that Frank and Claire are stepping away from the sporting side of the business, but that the rest of the business will continue as before (at least in the short term). |
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3 Sep 2020, 14:20 (Ref:3999826) | #1732 | ||
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Richard |
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3 Sep 2020, 14:31 (Ref:3999827) | #1733 | |||
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Under the heritage section it says: "Williams Heritage was created in 2014 to manage the team's collection of historic Formula One cars. This includes maintaining and curating the Williams Grand Prix Collection, and showcasing, selling and running the fleet of cars, maintaining and curating the Williams Grand Prix Collection, and showcasing, selling and running the fleet of cars". It goes on to say: "The Heritage division will return these cars to their former glory and bring them into private ownership so they can be enjoyed and operated on track once again. The team will provide a comprehensive support network to owners and become a regular participant in the historic racing scene." That is where the revenue is generated. |
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3 Sep 2020, 14:44 (Ref:3999830) | #1734 | ||
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i saw a story yesterday that Vettel has bought Mansell's old Williams...would this have been something he bought from the Heritage collection? sold by the old or new owners?
of course the timing of it all makes me want to believe it is connected somehow. |
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3 Sep 2020, 15:01 (Ref:3999833) | #1735 | ||
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Make sure the door doesn't smack you on the Ar$e on the way out Claire. Honestly she has made Johnson and Trump look like they have a clue
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3 Sep 2020, 15:17 (Ref:3999839) | #1736 | ||
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People involved are Horners cousin & Prince Williams brother in law. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jame...racing_driver)
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3 Sep 2020, 15:34 (Ref:3999844) | #1737 | |||
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Born in the Midlands, made in the Royal Navy |
3 Sep 2020, 15:51 (Ref:3999845) | #1738 | ||
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Been for sale at a dealer advertising in Classic Sportscar for months
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3 Sep 2020, 15:53 (Ref:3999846) | #1739 | |
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Sad day that we see the Williams family stepping down. Sir Frank has done a lot F1 and motorsport in general and whatever you think of Claire, there’s no doubting her passion for the team
I knew James Matthews is married to Pippa, but is he really Christian Horner’s cousin? |
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3 Sep 2020, 16:07 (Ref:3999848) | #1740 | ||
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Sad and strange times, but unfortunately 'The Family' were going to have to step away now that the business has been sold. The upside of all of this is that hopefully the new owners will get some properly experienced people in which should restore Williams to its former glory. As a side issue and purely from a sticky-beaks perspective, when we see who is installed into the team it may give a few more clues about who the people are actually behind the buy out.
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3 Sep 2020, 16:14 (Ref:3999853) | #1741 | ||||
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All joking aside, I am sure everyone is curious to know who it will be. Richard |
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3 Sep 2020, 16:14 (Ref:3999854) | #1742 | ||
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I agree, hopefully we will see the Williams name back up the front, even if the family will sadly no longer involved. But it’s no different from Ferrari and McLaren, who are still there despite their founders no longer here |
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3 Sep 2020, 16:19 (Ref:3999855) | #1743 | ||
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Home, is where I want to be but I guess I'm already there I come home, she lifted up her wings guess that this must be the place |
3 Sep 2020, 16:44 (Ref:3999859) | #1744 | |||
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Last edited by tux; 3 Sep 2020 at 16:56. |
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3 Sep 2020, 17:07 (Ref:3999868) | #1745 | ||
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280 days...... |
3 Sep 2020, 17:08 (Ref:3999869) | #1746 | ||
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speaking of Horner though...he is now the longest current serving team principle at 16 years.
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3 Sep 2020, 17:16 (Ref:3999872) | #1747 | ||
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IMO, best thing for Williams is to become a satellite team to Renault (Ie: Alfa is to Ferrari, Alpha Tauri is to Red Bull etc) since no other teams will be using Renault parts. Williams get a decent supply of Renault goodies, (PU's, gearboxes and the like) Renault get that important data.
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3 Sep 2020, 17:23 (Ref:3999874) | #1748 | |||
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3 Sep 2020, 18:00 (Ref:3999881) | #1749 | |
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Regarding becoming a satellite team. I can expect the key change new management will make will be the basic mindset that Williams has fought to keep. And that is that they are a "constructor" using the old school definition. Williams has very much rejected the strategy used by teams such as Haas, Alpha Tauri, etc. with Racing Point being the most recent successful example.
I would assume new leadership will show up, then they will immediately (if they are not already behind the scenes) work to form a stronger partnership with someone (Mercedes, Renault, maybe, but probably not Honda or Ferrari). That the path forward will be to "buy" vs. "build" as much as they can. This will be the antithesis of the current/prior Williams strategy. I can imagine any mid-level leadership who may not be onboard with this strategy may be forced out as well. It clearly will also impact resourcing at Williams. For example if you are buying a gearbox from someone else, you don't need staff who specialize in gearboxes. If at some point in the future, if/when the sport and the team is healthier and if/when building back those capabilities make sense, nothing would stop them from doing so. Yes, a purposeful "brain drain" now would make it harder to build back those capabilities in the future. But they are trying to (1) survive (2) climb off the bottom of the grid. Their priority should not be to pretend to be (or staff like they are) Mercedes or Ferrari. As with anything, this is all speculation on my part. But it is what I would do. Richard |
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3 Sep 2020, 18:20 (Ref:3999884) | #1750 | ||
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They weren't exactly pulling up trees when Claire took over and, if she is to blame for the complete collapse of the team then she probably should take credit for the temporary revival they had as well. It has been a typical, miserable slow death of an F1 team. The smallest organisations always end up being dragged out the back and shot. It is always the same: they lose a major component of their competitiveness and drop like a stone, have a bit of a revival and then have one final, fatal slump. Once upon a time it was Williams stretching the budgets, ramping up the research spending and making F1 untenable for the smallest teams. It is a sad day. But I am amazed they made it this far, things looked absolutely dire as long ago as 2006. |
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