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Williams evaluating options for 2017


By Andrew Hooper
August 5 2016

Discussions in regard to the Williams Martini teams driver line-up for the 2017 season have increased with various options open to the team. In recent races the performance of the teams 2016 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa have draw the inevitable views that the team will be looking for replacements for one or both for 2017. Various drivers names have risen to the top of the list as far as who Williams are considering including Jenson Button and Sergio Perez.

 
 Williams evaluating options for 2017
 

Discussions in regard to the Williams Martini teams driver line-up for the 2017 season have increased with various options open to the team. In recent races the performance of the teams 2016 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa have draw the inevitable views that the team will be looking for replacements for one or both for 2017. Both Valtteri and Felipe see their contracts finish at the end of the 2016 season, even though it is believed that the team has an option on Bottas for 2017.

Various drivers names have risen to the top of the list as far as who Williams are considering including Jenson Button and Sergio Perez. Others include Daniil Kvyat, Felipe Nasr and Lance Stroll.

But now Williams Deputy Claire Williams has spoken of how Jenson Button is a target but he is not the only option. She also added that the Williams team would not sit and wait for McLaren to make a decision regarding button's future.

When asked about Button Claire said: "I am not sat here waiting for Ron Dennis to make his decision or for Jenson to make his decision." But in a recent interview with Autosport.com Claire said that Button was a "very attractive" option. It was looking more likely that Button would be replaced by Stoffel Van Doorne at McLaren.

As for the possibility of Button's returned Claire added: "It would be lovely [to have Button back at Williams]

"The story is great. There are some great talents out there and Jenson is very attractive commercially as well.

"He is also an extremely intelligent driver from a variety of different angles so of course he is going to be up there for consideration.

"When I went to Silverstone and I was on the big stage, Tony Jardine who was the MC said to the crowd: 'Tell Claire how much you'd like to see Jenson back in a Williams'. "The whole place erupted. It was extraordinary."

"We are still evaluating our options. You want to make sure you evaluate every area that you put weight on when you are choosing a driver, not just what they do on a Sunday afternoon but it's everything they bring to a team."

Claire added: "You start off with a long list and you work down to a shortlist. We're on the shortlist at the moment and now it's just a case of choosing the two drivers.

"We wouldn't want to leave it any longer [than a couple of months to make a decision]. From a stability perspective, we want to know where we are all at.

"It's not a decision of a moment choosing who you are going to put in your cars as they are a big part of what we do.

"The top teams have made their selections so we now are the team everyone is looking at if you are drivers that haven't got a contract next year.

"We have options available to us and that's great, it's a wonderful position to be in and because we have those options, we need to make sure we make the right decisions."

Despite recent claims that Perez would be staying at Force India in 2017 there is now degree of uncertainty over his future. Perez had said that where he would be in 2017 would come down to his choice as well as his sponsors.

As for Perez Claire added: "Sergio has done a great job this year, he is an intelligent driver, and of course he is going to be someone we are looking at."

"He is [also] very eloquent, so commercially he would be strong for any team. Of course he is going to be someone you'd consider if he is available."

The driver line-up for 2017 that has gained the most weight is that of Bottas being retained and that he would be joined by Button. Williams is expected to make a decision on its driver line-up in "the next couple of months".

 

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Williams evaluating options for 2017
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 05/08/2016 12:37
Williams F1
05/08/2016 12:37
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Duffer
06/08/2016 18:42
Button will replace massa, that much is certain. All the perez talk is just ammunition to stop bottas asking for a pay rise. Kinda like, if you keep your seat, be thankful.

They will not replace bottas with perez.

Two williams drivers next year will both have surnames with 2 syllables, start with B, have a double t in the middle, have 6 letters, and have the pattern, consonant, vowel, consonant, consonant, vowel, consonant.

Uncanny really!

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii244/jock298/Duffer_2Sig.png

Gunk
06/08/2016 20:32
I'm not convinced, but it's a nice theory, Duffer.

About Bottas' pay rise . . . well. it's in his contract. As it was with Webber back in 2005. The trouble that caused.

There seems to be some penny pinching going on at Williams at the moment . . . it's almost as if Adam Parr has returned.

Mikef1
07/08/2016 15:51
I think it's more like..

Button is first choice, and Perez is the fallback option

AlanJones
07/08/2016 19:12
As I've said in the News thread, it appears that Button wants to chat with Macca first. I'd say get Perez and let Button go before we have a situation where in Japan we still don't know who will drive for us in 2017..


https://i.ibb.co/BsYLL8h/1992-Formula1-Williams-FW14-B-001-1440-01.jpg

Gunk
07/08/2016 23:27
Quote:
AlanJones
As I've said in the News thread, it appears that Button wants to chat with Macca first. I'd say get Perez and let Button go before we have a situation where in Japan we still don't know who will drive for us in 2017..

There was the rumour on usually non-rumour mongering Pitpass that Macca would smooth Button's way into another series. He then remains a kind of brand ambassador and sorts out a career path for the next few years. Not a bad option.

K1
08/08/2016 11:30
I have just read a report that renault are on the look out for a 'charasmatic lead driver'. i then read that they are talking to bottas!!!! is this some sort of joke?

TerraNova19
08/08/2016 12:03
Quote:
K1
I have just read a report that renault are on the look out for a 'charasmatic lead driver'. i then read that they are talking to bottas!!!! is this some sort of joke?

you/they have picked the wrong driver!

'charasmatic lead driver' = Felipe Massa smiling smiley

backsoon
08/08/2016 12:13
To me there are two kind of drivers and two kind of teams, who tend to match.
The big teams with big monies and wages who make the pick of World Championship talent, and the rest who deal with what is left.
Button is down the ladder to me and Fiat, Merc, Macca and RBR have all seats fixed but Macca second seat ATM.
Potential big spender to join the big wallets group is Renault but I dont see them picking a past glory as Button. I see more Reanult looking to bring in Grosjean Ocon one day, or Rowland Perez, or that kind of combo.
I see Macca more going the Vandoorne route to make a Max#2 than keeping two seniors.
Thus, Button may have nowhere to go.
From the others teams' side, they need to pick the best left and also who brings money in, and if possible, a future jewel. Bottas was looking like fitting on the three categories, now there are doubts about how big of a future jewel he might be.
Button and Perez (and Bottas) fell in the two first categories, but only Stroll fits on the third as there are no certainties Bottas is a future jewel as many thought.
Unless Honda is on the talks for the post Mercedes era, I see no point of Button now for WF1. This may be the strongest argument of why they may pick him, which is a mistake to me, unless Honda is our new engine.

Darron
08/08/2016 19:23
Quote:
Duffer
Two williams drivers next year will both have surnames with 2 syllables, start with B, have a double t in the middle, have 6 letters, and have the pattern, consonant, vowel, consonant, consonant, vowel, consonant.
Uncanny really!

When I see BUT BOT it reminds me of the kids programme Dick n Dom in da Bugalow when they had a game called battle bots, the kids had to name the robots they made and I'm sure there was one called Butbot - come to think of it they were nearly all named after bums or bogeys!

We've had similar naming pairings before with Webber and Vettel at Red Bull and HILL and VILLeneuve at WILLiams

andy si
09/08/2016 06:09
If Button is the obvious target.. then the next decision on the number two or second number one lies in the Stroll test.

No chance they are doing that test that Daddy is paying for on a flimsy idea that money is all that matters. You have another option in Perez, that showed his worth in the 2016 campaign. Compared to Bottas, Perez has a higher qually and begining phase of a GP's worth. And he brings in more cash.

So the Button cool down to wait with McLaren talks for a "short while" may be down to another factor.. who can be alongside him in the Williams seat.

My money is on driver pairing announcement soon after the completion of the Stroll test.

TerraNova19
09/08/2016 07:35
Few days ago I wrote:

"
I am afraid Williams will finish driver selection saga with a disappointing news.

the best I can see they will get: Bottas - Kvyat or Bottas - Stroll

They wake up late!
"

Way too optimistic smiling smiley

Looks like Renault will get Perez and Bottas!
Bottas has a Renault offer. To get him Williams will have to pay him more that $2-3 mil/season they are paying right now. I doubt they will offer him more that $5 mil./season.

What's left on the table? Not much!

Massa - Kvyat , Massa -Nasr, Massa - Stroll smiling smiley

Regarding Button: I have the feeling that he does not want to come back to Williams Racing. He will not get too much money from them. So, why bother! smiling smiley



Edited 8 time(s). Last edit at 2016:08:09:11:39:02 by TerraNova19.

Ozzy Osbone
09/08/2016 11:20
I with Button it depends on whether Mclaren want him and how much he wants to stay in F1. Let's face it, 2 years with Williams are likely to not produce much in the way of wins. He'll be making up the field.

AlanJones
09/08/2016 11:30
I saw the Spa F3 races of last weekend. Lance did well but also managed to raise my eyebrows. Going into the Eau Rouge he came towards George Russell. At the top of Radillion he was entering his move and after the kink on the Kemmel straight he passed Russel. This was so soon on the Kemmel that Russel got back into Strolls slipstream, got the momentum back and passed Stroll again before Les Combes. This happened twice. The second time happened a lap afterwards.

Now you would think that by the experience of the lap before you hold off a bit, pass Russel two hundred meters further down the line and seal third place with that. But Stroll didn't. He actually did exactly the same with the same outcome. To me, that is a weakness. To me that's a sign that Stroll isn't ready. And considering it all, I still wonder if Stroll is that good. He is quick, sure he is. He was 1.2 second on pace compared to the number 2 in qualifying at Spa. But if he is behind, he doesn't seem to be that.. well.. strong. If he starts at the front, he gets the job done. But he started also 11th and 9th. From 11th he didn't stay out of trouble, got his tyre flat and finished 2 laps off the winner. From 9th he chose the right path at the start. Was 5th after the first corner, but couldn't climb much further than 3rd before, as I described above, finishing 4th.

He needs to do so well in the daddy tests if Williams even would even contemplate on giving him a drive in 2017. And if they do, we need to retain one of our two drivers. Because that seems the formula: never start with a fresh line up after such a rigorous rule change like the one in 2017.

To me, Bottas and Perez would suffice. Boot Button from the tabla talks and get on with TWO drivers who have a FUTURE.


https://i.ibb.co/BsYLL8h/1992-Formula1-Williams-FW14-B-001-1440-01.jpg

Whitey*~@
10/08/2016 14:23
like I have already said I don't rate Stroll at all, Kvyat would be a better choice than Stroll.

*** WILLIAMS F1 FAN SINCE 1985 ***

Ozzy Osbone
10/08/2016 19:38
Without googling Whitey, what do you base that on? I assume you have watched a good number of races which Stroll has taken part in to come to that conclusion? Care to give a few examples so we can discuss?

Whitey*~@
10/08/2016 22:21
It is just a gut feeling as to why I don't rate Stroll I just don't think he will be successful in Formula 1, lets wait and see shall we.

*** WILLIAMS F1 FAN SINCE 1985 ***

Duffer
11/08/2016 14:18
Hahaha, its a guess. More likely a hope. Whitey is classic.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii244/jock298/Duffer_2Sig.png

K1
12/08/2016 08:40
Hey whitey...even a gut feel has to be based on something?

Ozzy Osbone
12/08/2016 09:22
Whitey is a Jedi.

Whitey*~@
12/08/2016 16:56
It kinda is just a blind guess but I really don't think Stroll will ever win a F1 race (Sm13)

*** WILLIAMS F1 FAN SINCE 1985 ***

K1
13/08/2016 00:02
@ whitey....just why is that?

Duffer
13/08/2016 00:17
With max doing so well, i think everyone believes there are more stars to come. In reality, a max is a one in 10 year event. Takes a special person to handle the big leagues, max has that. Even if for example ocon beat max, it doesnt mean he will be a cracker like him.

These guys are very rare... i think we will find whitey is probably right.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii244/jock298/Duffer_2Sig.png

phatjack
13/08/2016 17:19
No doubt about it duffer, if Ricciardo is the benchmark, then Max looks a proper driver.

Kinda like in the Webber form, imo.

"When you talk, you are repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new." - Dalai Lama



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:08:13:17:20:14 by phatjack.

Ozzy Osbone
13/08/2016 17:41
I think if you put Stroll in the Merc he would win a race before the year end. It's all about circumstances really. I hope Danny Ric gets a good go at the title next year. Ham vs Ros is a bit sad really as one is clearly better. Put the 2 RBR guys in the mix and it could get very tasty.

Whitey*~@
15/08/2016 03:30
We will just have to wait and see K1 I am not really sure why I think it but I do.

*** WILLIAMS F1 FAN SINCE 1985 ***

crusty_bread
16/08/2016 10:19
I agree with Gunk about penny pinching.

Button is not a has-been or second-tier driver. He goes toe-to-toe with Alonso every race weekend, and came out on top at the last race. Alonso is still regarded by many as the best driver in the world, so Button is clearly Williams' best option.

However. he is also Williams' most expensive option. I think Williams, who have a much smaller budget than Mclaren, a regulation change to finance, and a joke of a sponsorship budget are playing hardball with regards to Button's salary. Bottas comes cheaper, and Perez, who I'm not a fan of, gives very little away to these two on track whilst providing Williams with enormous R&D potential. So in the current climate, if I was Claire, i'd play hardball too and offer Button a guaranteed seat at a fairly competitive team for a salary cut, vs taking his chances at Mclaren who have 3 drivers under contract and an engine manufacturer who has lost the plot.

williamsdb.com
16/08/2016 13:24
Quote:
Duffer
With max doing so well, i think everyone believes there are more stars to come. In reality, a max is a one in 10 year event. Takes a special person to handle the big leagues, max has that. Even if for example ocon beat max, it doesnt mean he will be a cracker like him.
These guys are very rare... i think we will find whitey is probably right.

Following that reasoning that means there won't be another race winner from the lower formulas for another 10 year, which seems ludicrous. Verstappen is a star but as has been said elsewhere you have to be in the right place at the right time.

http://www.williamsdb.com/side.jpg

A.Fant
16/08/2016 14:36
Quote:
williamsdb.com
Quote:
Duffer
With max doing so well, i think everyone believes there are more stars to come. In reality, a max is a one in 10 year event. Takes a special person to handle the big leagues, max has that. Even if for example ocon beat max, it doesnt mean he will be a cracker like him.
These guys are very rare... i think we will find whitey is probably right.

Following that reasoning that means there won't be another race winner from the lower formulas for another 10 year, which seems ludicrous. Verstappen is a star but as has been said elsewhere you have to be in the right place at the right time.
Even if you discount Max the current 96-99 generation of drivers coming up looks very strong (Ocon, Leclerc, Stroll, Norris). I wonder how that group will compare to the previous generations; (92-94; Vandoorne, Sainz, Kvyat, Wehrlein), (89-90; Ricciardo, Pérez, Bottas, Bianchi), (86-87; Vettel, Hülkenberg, Grosjean, Kobayashi), (81-85; Hamilton, Rosberg, Kubica, Kovalainen), (77-81; Alonso, Button, Räikkönen, Heidfeld), (74-75; Montoya, R. Schumacher, Trulli, Fisichella).

BTW, Liuzzi and Kovalainen have junior careers that remind me of Vandoorne’s – I think the hypetrain has gotten a bit ahead of itself when it comes to the not so young Belgian.

Ozzy Osbone
16/08/2016 15:33
I don't know but I think JB may know he is out at Mclaren. It just doesn't add up. Just as he beat Hamilton over 3 seasons on points, he's pretty much holding his own again ALO now. I suppose you could maybe argue that ALO has a tenth a lap over a race, just an edge. I would go with that. But that hardly makes JB a waste of time and on many days it will be reversed. It's like how many drivers do you pick from? What is the evidence? Top 2, Top 5, Top 7? Most are signed up already.

JB I think is out at Mclaren. They are keeping Alonso and they really have to put SVD in next year. It would be stupid to do anything else. So I think JB knows he is gone. Maybe that is wrong but I think it to be so.

So it's what is the price for Williams and what do we gain? I know (think) Crusty, who we all respect, has no faith in Honda but I do. I think a 2 year deal for JB with maybe Honda coming in and JB being reserve / test / ambassador works quite well.

Who knows. I just hope we have a slightly less anonymous line up in 2017 as for the last few years. Whether it be Sainz, or Mansell, or the ghost of James Hunt, I don't care. Just put someone in our car who can start and finish a fking sentence and if they can't they better be 1 second a lap faster than the other guy like Keke was.

Duffer
16/08/2016 16:00
@williamsdb. Max is not just a race winner, he is a multiple wdc in the making. He has that special ability to win in adversity.

So many junior stars rise up to become average in f1. Stroll and ocon with be much the same as liuzzi, perez, buemi, bottas et al.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii244/jock298/Duffer_2Sig.png

williamsdb.com
16/08/2016 16:29
I agree with you but even when Schumacher was winning races other lesser drivers (D. Hill for example) won races occasionally!

http://www.williamsdb.com/side.jpg

AlanJones
16/08/2016 21:23
Max is not just a race winner. He is the best there is. No one is better than Max and this moment. I even rate Alonso and Hamilton lesser than Max.
Don't count the victories or titles, just look plain at his approach and professionalism and Max is the only one who has it all.

And about Button. He matches Alonso and he did outscore Hamilton. But he is not the future anymore. Williams should look further down the horizon. Unless Button brings in free Honda engines from 2018 onwards, there is no reason to choose Button over Perez.


https://i.ibb.co/BsYLL8h/1992-Formula1-Williams-FW14-B-001-1440-01.jpg

crusty_bread
20/08/2016 13:32
what disappoints me about Perez is the number of events he seems to be completely outpaced by his teammate- especially in qualifying. This season he has, more often than not benefitted from the soft tyres. He seems to have a way of setting up the car or of nursing the tyres which enables him to maintain stint pace, but he's not very well rounded and that advantage will diminish next season with the new tyres.

His speed cannot be depended on to be close to the limit of the car routinely every qualifying session and every race, which is why he needs a Bottas or Button in the other car who can.

Im a massive fan of Max, he has such spirit, and I accept he has less experience in this RedBull than Ricciardo, but before we hail him the greatest driver of the decade, the fact is Ricciardo generally outqualifies him, and has beaten him in races a little bit too often to keep things simple. Ricciardo is going toe to toe with him, and winning regularly.

If RedBull are on the pace next year, Ricciardo could be a healthy bet for the title. I think Max is on a steeper progress curve and may improve as he gets more settled at RedBull, but I'm still not convinced he has Ricciardo's number yet.

K1
21/08/2016 15:14
@ crusty...yes, you are quite right. there is no doubting the race potential that resides with verstappen. he is good. Then again so is ricci. In fact i would go so far as to say, on a par with any of the top five and given a sniff would be a WDC. so far this season ricci should've had two wins and then everyone would be talking about him rather than verstappen. in fact he'd be running second in the WDC with a great chance of giving hamilton a run for the money. I am seriously hoping to see red bull up there alongside the mercedes next year and then we will see just how good this pair of red bulls really are. until then we can only make educated guesses.

As a non related addendum i thought that i must just say congrats to the brits for their first win in the premier MotoGP series for 35YEARs!!!!! Yes, that is how long it has taken to win a race. barry sheene, the accidental aussie, was the last to take a win for the brits in 1981 in sweden. long time between drinks.

AlanJones
24/08/2016 14:37
On qualifying pace, Verstappen has always had problems. Sainz also overshadowed Max in many occasions. But by degree of racing. I rate Verstappen much higher than Ricci. You will always have circuits that do not suit you. Also consider the fact that Verstappen had to learn everything new again at RBR. Won accidentally on the first run out, by a great performance has to be said but lucky none the less, and with that win had the eyes of the world focused on him. Even with that pressure he only cracked once. In Monaco.
By all means ofcourse Ricciardo is quick and a very good driver. But one has to be blind to acknowledge the talent and dedication Verstappen brings. The guy is 18! 9 years junior of Ricciardo and 69 Grands Prix less driven. And that was what I suggested with my post. Not the factual numbers that are that easy to name. But the complete and bigger picture surrounding Verstappen makes it that more special the way he performs.


https://i.ibb.co/BsYLL8h/1992-Formula1-Williams-FW14-B-001-1440-01.jpg

Ozzy Osbone
24/08/2016 14:51
Agree with that AlanJones. He makes it up in the race which is more important. Quali can be fixed in time. It's a skill he needs to learn. But his raw instinct and speed show in the race. It's Sunday where you get the points and Max is getting them.

It's quite an exciting time with RBR catching up to Merc and 2 really good drivers in VES and RIC to take on HAM. Mclaren maybe there at some point next year. We won't but ever mind, we need a longer term plan.

I suspect the 2017 title maybe HAM / VES / RIC and that will be damned good. Throw ALO in a competitive Mclaren in there and we have an epic season.

Vettel and Kimi will trouble around the edges but get nowhere as Berger and Alesi di all those years. Always there. Never anything.

K1
25/08/2016 01:44
@ alan jones....i suggest that you read my post again and pay credit where it's due. verstappen is good, as i have said, but how good is yet to be ascertained. rather than say that is the 'best' driver on the grid i will wait and see where it all shakes out.

Mehryar
25/08/2016 09:06
Imo calling a driver "better" must be based on facts and results...the fact is RIC has outqualified Max and their close points finish is heavily effected by team mistakes for RIC in Monaco and Spain...the other fact suggests Max has cracked more than once, erm infact 3times through a weekend.

This "he's only 18 and inexperienced" excuse is useless as they don't give more points to a driver at the end of season for age or not enough experience...let the guy mature into a world beater then reflect his results.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1095/mehryarsigyo7.gif

backsoon
25/08/2016 09:58
Quote:
Mehryar
Imo calling a driver "better" must be based on facts and results...the fact is RIC has outqualified Max and their close points finish is heavily effected by team mistakes for RIC in Monaco and Spain...the other fact suggests Max has cracked more than once, erm infact 3times through a weekend.
This "he's only 18 and inexperienced" excuse is useless as they don't give more points to a driver at the end of season for age or not enough experience...let the guy mature into a world beater then reflect his results.

True but also a big part of the season Max was sitting on a lesser competitive TR and aslo had to adapt to a new car. He being up there in the points is so remarkable to me.
He is in the fight for 3rd in the WDC in his second season with a midfield car for some of it, and a Renault donkey after a car change.

Duffer
25/08/2016 12:20
When all is even on su day, max will beat ricciardo 6 or 7 times out of 10 i think. He seems to have that .2 or .3 seconds per lap on dan ric.

Is this the new pressure of a great team mate (kvyat was really nowhere in races unless ricciardo was put out through reliability) and will it turn around? Who knows. Ithink much is on the tyres, so with new rubber coming and more grip, WE MIGHT SEE WHOLESALE CHANGES IN SOME DRIVERS.

Anyway, i miss the f1. Go spa! Go danny ric!

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii244/jock298/Duffer_2Sig.png

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