Is Sam Michael Good Enough??

[Scott75]

Just thought I'd start a thread on Sam Michael as I was wondering what people thought of him. It seems to me that he's not as good as first thought going on the pace of the Williams cars at the moment. Both cars as I speak are a lowly 13th and 14th in the French Grand Prix. There so called aero gains seems to have made them go backwards rather than forwards.

I for one am extremely disappointed in the lack of pace this weekend. Both drivers are struggling badly with a lack of pace and I would imagine now that BMW have jumped ship there would be some worried people at Williams at the moment.

Any thoughts??

[Adam43]

My main thought is, we are in the middle of the race Kimi is just about to come at around Michael and Juan Pablo and the main concern is over Sam Michael as a technical director. Are you struggling for live TV in Australia at the moment?

One for tomorrow I reckon...

[Scott75]

Well I'm just disappointed with there speed during this race. I'm watching the live timing and I thought I should start a thread as I'm very frustrated with there lack of speed. I don't expect people to look at this thread til later anyway, no harm in starting the thread now though.

[Dixie Flatline]

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

My main thought is, we are in the middle of the race Kimi is just about to come at around Michael and Juan Pablo and the main concern is over Sam Michael as a technical director. Are you struggling for live TV in Australia at the moment?

One for tomorrow I reckon...

Put it this way, Adam. It's 46 laps into the race. Fernando is on his way to a seemingly easy win.

Here in Melbourne Australia, watching it on Network Ten, we're on the parade lap.

And they're pretending we don't have access to the Internet.

[Raglanparade]

THey need a new car. Not just one new person.

[GTRMagic]

A new engine might be nice also... that wish can (and will?) be granted....

If the driver is slinging mud at the engine things cant be good in Frankland...

[Kicking-back]

Sam Michael does not design the car, and one man does not make a team.

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Sam Michael does not design the car, and one man does not make a team.

But one man can certainly help a team make giant leaps. Mike Gascoyne and Geoff Willis come to mind.

[JeremySmith]

IMHO I do not think William's problems have any thing to do with Sam Michael, they need Cosworth power.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Silk Cut Jaguar

But one man can certainly help a team make giant leaps. Mike Gascoyne and Geoff Willis come to mind.

Both these men are designers Sam Michael isn't iirc.

[BootsOntheSide]

As soon as Sam Michael took overall responsibility for Williams' efforts at the race meeting itself, the succession of disqualifications started, and the team seemed to lose its knack of finding the right setup. Also, the problem of starting the season off-pace and always having to come from behind seems to have only started since Sam emerged in the team. I really don't rate the guy very hgihly, and his presence seems to be an unsettling factor

[BSchneiderFan]

Williams need a more fundamental rethink than just replacing Sam Michael. They need a long-term engine deal, they need two drivers on reasonably long-term contracts, and they need to make decisions about the future leadership of the team, given the ages of Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head.

Sign up with Cosworth and go with Webber/Button? Might be the answer. Who knows?

[strider]

Don't forget the deteriorating relationship with BMW. We may only have heard about it in public fairly recently, but it must have been developing behind the scenes for much longer, probably since about the time Sam Michael took over.

[Knowlesy]

Is it not Gavin Fisher who leads the design team?

Sam Michael just sets objectives for design, he doesn't actually design it himself. So perhaps his leadership can be questioned. But it's early days, he'll come good.

Williams can design a good car, we only have to go back to 2003 for that.

[Hugh Jarce]

Originally Posted by Silk Cut Jaguar

But one man can certainly help a team make giant leaps. Mike Gascoyne and Geoff Willis come to mind.

Agreed - you need someone who can knit the whole deal together. Williams just don't seem to have someone with that quality.

[R59]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Sam Michael does not design the car, and one man does not make a team.

I agree. It's a team effort these days. They were talking/suggesting today, that the problem may be power related (or lack thereof) While the BMTroubleyou may be ultimately powerful, it may not have it's power in the right place, might be too peaky?

It's all supposition.

What ever, the car combination isn't working at the moment.

And yes, I think the idea of a Williams Cosworth would be great for 2006. Maybe another manufacturer could be encouraged to badge the engine - how about Chevy?

Rob.

[Peter Mallett]

Patrick Head.

[Logrence]

I think Patrick Head, Frank Williams and Herr Doktor Theissen are the main problems for Williams.

[richard_sykes]

Yes he is, he is not as old as most people in his shoes but, I dont think Williams difficulties are anything to do with him.

[hobophobic]

Yes he is good enough he just needs a bit more time,when you start making back room changes i think you have to give things awhile to settle down. A good example of this was Ford taking over Stewart and making sweeping personnel changes and then sacking people after a few races when things didnt go right and look what happened to them, (read Jaguar) they went under.

[esorniloc]

Its Gavin Fisher thats the problem not Sam Michael.
How long has Gavin Fisher been the designer?

[lookleft]

Are we talking about the same team that came 2nd and 3rd at Monaco? Seems to me that the chassis is not too bad and that the "pit wall" team are doing OK (made the call to bring NH in etc). The last couple of races have been a result of the other teams doing a better job - McLaren and Ferrari are getting their act together so Williams really are the 5th maybe 6th best combination out there. Goes to prove what a good job the team and drivers did in the early part of the season when the other teams were giving away points.

The problem for Williams is available for all too see, it's in the live timing data should you care to look.

[thejester]

Originally Posted by lookleft

The problem for Williams is available for all too see, it's in the live timing data should you care to look.

Stop being smug and tell us your theory.
Oh, wait, it's all Webber's fault, am I right?

[DannyG]

Originally Posted by lookleft

The problem for Williams is available for all too see, it's in the live timing data should you care to look.

Lack of power perhaps?

[Scott75]

Well it's getting very tense at Williams now, look at the comments coming from Dr.Theison, very attacking against Williams. The sooner he and BMW have left the better for Williams. You can't get results with all of this infighting. One wonder whether they will go back to aero package that was on the car prior to France.