What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

So the question is, why haven't Williams gone with a manufacturer for 2011?

Lotus moving in on Renault

In this article, Joe Saward expresses doubts as to whether Williams have made the correct decision. I have to admit that a Lotus/Renault combination may well give a Williams/Cosworth combination a run for its money. That said, considering Volkwagen are quite vocal about their desire to work with a current team in 2013, it may be a wise move allowing Lotus to get into bed with Renault. Our current 3 year deal will expire at the end of 2012, so it really does sound like we are keeping ourselves available for a works Volkwagen engine partnership in 2013, so this might actually be wise long-term planning, especially considering the engine-freeze will have to be lifted for 2013 so it is worth doing everything possible to secure a works partnership.

Another thought I had was that perhaps in negotiations with Renault, they asked Williams whether they were switching to VW regardless for 2013, and did not like the answer they got because of the information regarding their technology that Williams could pass on to VW.

Furthermore, it may suggest that Williams are content with Cosworth's recent improvements, and consider that yet another engine-change for just 2 years is just not worth the pain and costs. A stable platform may be better than sacrificing time and resources changing to an engine, only to change yet again in 2013. Presuming that there will be a long period working together with VW before 2013 trying to integrate the two packages, then switching to Renault may be biting off a bit more than we can chew.

Hmmm...VW/Williams?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:15:12:19:14 by crusty_bread.

Joe is a smart cookie and I 100% take his point. But...

I think recent events have proven that there is a lot to come form the Cosworth if we get the car in order. I don't think the engine is restricting us particularly *yet* and even more so with the newbies.

The engine package is really good value in comparison to other deals and if it is anywhere near the pace, I bet we can get more performance benefit from spending £X million on Aero or other developments. Our budget is also under pressure next year with RBS withdrawing so conservatism on the engine front is probably a good thing.

This is exactly what we did with Toyota (jump straight back to a customer/manufacturer deal) and arguably in Toyota's withdrawal we got out fingers burned again. That's not even counting Nakajima.

Therefore, if the Cosworth looks like being respectable next year, I am totally behind sticking with it. We need consistency. All these trip-ups hurt us badly. I get the feeling this is the team's view too, and they've decided to keep their own house in order and put the work in.

It also works nicely with new partners. VW is obviously the target, and the Porsche deal for the KERS will have done that no harm. Niether will Mr. Hulkenberg.

I suppose the teams view is that unless its a full manufacturer works engine deal, its not worth the cost and risk.

Makes sense i suppose.

P.S - Lotus could be a worry to us with Renault power. But good on them...

Speaking with my counterparts in the Marketing dept of VWNA (Includes Porsche & Audi under that umbrella), there is no conversation yet on any involvement with auto racing higher than GT3, Cup or Le Mans.

That said, the focus is on Road Racing & they are genuinely excited anytime F1 is mentioned.

But with factories in the US being launched in the next year or so & the stated goal of being the world's largest manufacturer by '18 - they either have alot on their plates or it will be part of the overall strategy.

Not stating the obvious too much am i? LOL

I suppose until the 2013 regs are agreed upon, VW are not going to commit to anything, so there is nothing to discuss, but I recall a comment from VW a month or so ago saying they were very excited by some of the proposals and that they would be very interested in becoming an engine supplier for 2013- no more.

There is no confirmation that Lotus will use Renault engine in 2011...

I dun have faith in VW to finally stop talkin and join the sport...every year we have atleast 2 new stories about their interest in the sport and then 2new stories denying it.

Audi clearly has denied it, saying whatever VW is gonna do, they will do it alone and not with Audi brand as they dun see too much money spent in F1, a good way to translate Technology to their road cars.

So, building our plans on an unknown partner who has a record of denying any interested in f1, is absolutly terrible desicion and I believe Frank and Parr both are wise enough not to do that.

IMHO, there's 2 reasons beyond their decision...1st, with the money we spend, we may get more value than what should we offer to Renault, probably Cosworth with some changes can become abit more near to Renault but with a much cheaper set...and 2nd, the fact we are the first team for Cosworth and changes to characters of this unit can be made from direct input of our team requests.

Then again on VW, as much as I like them to be with us in 2013, I see the story another fake one...2012 comes and someone expressed the cost of F1 for VW, and that's it!

Mehryar

I think the only positive thing about VW and Williams in general is if after 2013 or whatever they decide to join, Williams are one of the few teams who just want a straight works engine deal. As Adam Parr has said, independence is the key for them.

Force India want a whole engine/transmission deal, and youe Saubers and Torro Rossos are for sale to the right bidder, but they have to take the whole team on board.

So I think if they did come to F1, it would look really good for Williams. Its just doubtful they will in the first place.

I don't know- there were quite a few stories about it recently. It sounded very much like they were reading from the same script as Williams like the outcome of a meeting- ie we don't want to own a team, we just want to supply engines to an established runner.

I don't know, maybe being the Cosworth works team rather than the Renault junior customer squad would still be better come 2013 when it all gets shaken up.

I really don't understand what Adam Parr is saying...it sounds like..."We will be using Cosworth next year, but we want to change as soon as we can"




GO TEAM WILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its all about politics.I think our team intentionaly leave the media to believe that maybe is a chance to switch to renult.When cosworth see that maybe could lose williams maybe they changed the contract for the benefit of williams.Isnt odd that when parr confirmed that we are sticking with cosworth,we see the name at the engine cover.Anyway i think that switching to renult would not do us more good than staying with cosworth.We will still be a costumers partner and i dont think it has so much diffrence from sponsorship aspect.And is cheaper.

Yes, I think that the economical situation of the team is not the best to breake a contract




GO TEAM WILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!