I reckon Wurz's 13 points is mostly luck, and he has gained more than the difference (its not double the points either, it's just 10 points. And considering that points finish at 8th place, and considering some mighty stuff ups from Toyota this year, plus Ralf's driving for the first 2/3rd of the season, it really isn't that simple.
I am not sure about arse covering - but being risk averse is very Japanese, certainly. But I do not know if that is the problem.

Sure they could do with more from outside, but at various levels they have done that. Its also about them learning themselves, its actually not just about winning. Its about winning themselves. The same attitude is present in the car operations - they rarely buy other companies, rather they set things up themselves.

Certainly too large a business, and maybe the role of Tokyo itself and too hierarchical a structure is slowing things down. But a few seasons ago they could not keep up with the rate of F1 development - they now can. This year the car started slow - IMO a design issue. And they couldn't figure the tyres out - their key leader is a Michelin tyre guy, maybe he did not help in that area. I think their aero is not appropriate - not having scalloped sidepods has not worked in F1. They have reasons for their sidepods, but it hasn't worked.

The Japanese do tend to be patient, although with some programs they have quickly pulled out, but that has been more sponsor based than running their own operation. I think the F1 team is comfortably paying for itself - the numbers show demographic gains, and they have sports models coming on line. Even in Australia Toyota have setup a sports sedan program for their big front drive car here, which will be super or turbo charged high tech six, and they will export that car when it is successful here (Prodrive lead). There are some serious sports/GT/Super car coming too. Its all part of change in direction from what has made them successful.

Sure they'd love to win - but I also think that MB, BMW, Ferrari, Renault/Nissan have a stronger fervor to make sure they don't win.

Nakajima for the second seat next year?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63041

I personally don't think he's performed well enough in GP2 to warrant a drive but obviously the team have a lot of time and data from testing to know how he can perform in relation to Wurz and Rosberg.

However, could FW be speaking about him in regards to a works Toyota seat next year, with Schumacher leaving?

I really hope so, in a way but I don't think he's the best driveless youngster - that's an honour I'd offer Piquet, followed closely by Glock.

Nakajima would be a low point for Williams.

Nakajima trailed Piquet by exactly the same amount as Rosberg did, on days 1 and 2 of the Jerez test, respectively - hardly concusive, to be sure, but it certainly puts ideas of hime doing a bad job out of the window - to my mind at least.

On Speed's Friday Practice coverage, Peter Windsor appeared to intimate that Glock was a virtual lock on one of the Toyota seats next year.

Good!

Nakajima? No way

I think that if Rosberg leave the team for Mclaren SFW will choice an experienced driver (Fisi) and a young (Glock, Piquet). Anyway i hope that the Sam Michael words about a strong car in 2008 will become true.

To my mind, of the likely candidates, I'd like to see Nakajima there - mainly because Glock is allegedly touted for Toyota, (and their tone about him in the run up to his GP2 finale was very doting, too) and I'd really like to see Piquet at Renault, especially if they have a bounce back. The thought of LH, NP, HK, FA, KR, NR all going toe-to-toe is really appealing. And as I've siad, looking at his times, he's there or thereabouts, already.

any words if Williams is getting any new sponsorship deals for next year?

i'd love to believe the hype, but i'll believe it when i see it

no doubt toyota has to buy into williams ala merc / mclaren (not BMW! ) to really make it happen - if it isn't too late already - with the interesting point that someone made earlier that SFW and his team would probably work well with a japanese partner, considering the honda heritage.

Some GP's ago there were talks of a number of Spyker sponsors switching to Williams next year...

I've heard of that as well, however, none of the Dutch Spyker sponsors are really significant. I hope Williams is able to pull off some good deals on this front after a reasonably good season.

Well, as suspected, Alex won't be racing for the team next year. Let's hope Williams can get someone to complement Nico's competitiveness.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63104

Rosberg and Nakajima to drive for the team next year. Personally, I would have like to have seen a more experienced driver to partner Rosberg but the team obviously have good reasons to select Nakajima.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63827

I wonder if their engines will now be free?

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I thought they were already free (in exchange for seamless shift technology)?

Anyway, great news for Williams to have secured Rosberg for another year, I hope Nakajima, though a Toyota placement by the look of it, proves worthwhile too. And if Williams beats Toyota in 2008 too, the Japanese company might want to think about joining forces with the British squad.

If you look on autosport.com today as well as the Rosberg/Nakajima header article in the bottom left you will see:

ONE YEAR AGO IN F1 Week 45

Williams sign Nakajima as test driver
Jerez to face GPDA test inspection
Gene remains at Ferrari for 2007

Congratulations on your quick promotion Kazuki!

As far as I know Williams shelled out over 20 mil this year for engines. They will now get them on the house with a small bonus thrown in for good measure. Allegedly.

Wow, this article throws up a few interesting thoughts/issues:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63829




I think the last one is the most interesting. There must be some financial incentive for Williams to take Nakajima.

Definately. Probably a discount on engines or they'd be totally free (if they aren't already) maybe additional funds?

Not knowing who else was on the Williams shortlist (or how much influence Toyota had on the decision) I think Kazuki could turn out to be an OK choice. I kept an eye out for him in GP2 seeing as he was Williams' test driver, and I was reasonably impressed with his progress through the season after a rather lacklustre start.

Personally I'd have liked to see him in a top GP2 team next year with a view to challenging for the title. I think the rapid ascent to F1 may be a bit too much for him at first, but I'm confident he should find his feet by mid-season.

It looks like they wanted continuity. Someone who already knows the team, the car and did ok in his first race (except for the pit mishap). They already have their start driver in nico, no point picking up another wannabe (Glock, Sutil, Piquet). Also I'm sure Toyota offered them an incetive or two.

Nakajima wasn't that bad in GP2 this year,
but I think it's a year to soon.
I should have let Nakajima drive another year in GP2 ... maybe he would have had a chance for the title...???

But somehow now I'm a bit dissapointed .. I had hoped that maybe Alonso would go to Williams or Piquet Jr. would be next to Rosberg.

Anyway..
I wish Williams more succes in 2008 than in 2007!
I think it's possible..

Knowing how Wurz fared in qualifying and race conditions in 2007, I am sure he would do fare better than AW.

With the obligatory end-of-season break now at an end, the team returned to the race track yesterday for the opening session of what will undoubtedly becoming an intensive period of winter testing ahead of 2008.

In preparation for next year, the team will be running two cars at a three day test in Barcelona this week with Nico Rosberg and newly-appointed race driver, Kazuki Nakajima, in the cockpits of the interim FW29Bs.

Dickie Stanford, Test Team Manager, Williams F1:
"The AT&T Williams team were back on the race track today for the start of winter testing. In preparation for his first full season in Formula One having been confirmed as a race driver for 2008, Kazuki Nakajima joined Nico Rosberg in the two car test. The pair, driving interim FW29Bs, opened the winter programme with a constructive first day concentrating on component development. Neither car suffered any major faults, and both drivers will return to the track tomorrow."

At the end of a busy day which saw a number of red flags, Kazuki set a fastest time of 1:23.187 on lap 40 out of 66 (8th) and Nico a 1:23.847 on lap 57 out of 58 (11th).

Anyone know what changes there are to the interim car over the one that raced at Brazil (apart from the obvious electronic changes)?

In past they've tried to get next year's engine and gearbox running as early as possible. Usually the changes made to the rear end to accommodate it justify a B spec.

The portuguese autosport speculates that the announced duo of Williams drivers (Rosberg and Nakajima) might still be provisory, and it might still be possible for Alonso to move to Williams and/or for Rosberg to move to McLaren. I have no idea on what are they basing this speculative article on, and honestly think it's complete bullshit.

any idea if Williams is getting any new sponsors for the new season? hopefully, their 2007 form is going to help in persuading a few joining in.

Frank Dernie has had nothing to do with the Aero development at Williams for quite some time now. His role at Toyota seems to be on-track / race-engineering consultancy. Frank's last role at Williams was as Alex Wurz's engineer on Friday practise.

CFD at Williams is actually very good. They have been investing in it for a long time, and they have the knowledge and hardware to get decent numbers out it. CFD is not a problem area for Williams.

The team were back on track today at a rather warmer Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, for the second day of winter testing.

Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima were again on duty to continue work on the scheduled programme, which included running through a comprehensive set of systems checks following the integration of the standard electronic control units (ECU), a new regulation for 2008.

Day two proved to be another successful session, with neither of the FW29B interim cars suffering any major mechanical problems.

Dickie Stanford, Test Team Manager, Williams F1:
"Both Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima returned to the cockpit today for our second day at a slightly warmer Circuit de Catalunya. Continuing with our scheduled programme, the drivers worked through systems checks and evaluations of the new electronic control units. The pair will return for tomorrow's final day."

The AT&T Williams team have completed their first on-track tests of the interim FW29B car in preparation for their 2008 campaign.

A two car test, Nico Rosberg was joined by Kazuki Nakajima, the young Japanese driver in the cockpit for the first time as a Formula One race driver.

Although seasonally cold, weather at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona remained dry, allowing the team unhindered progress for the three days. In anticipation of 2008's revised regulations which have standardised electronic control units (ECUs), the team's drivers spent the three days evaluating and carrying out systems checks on the FW29Bs.

Despite countless red flags while the field accustomed themselves to running without traction control, Nico and Kazuki covered over 2,100 kms this week, with Nico registering 191 laps and Kazuki 270 laps.

On the third day of testing, Nico recorded the 8th fastest time of the day with a 1:21.820, recorded on lap 19 out of 69, while Kazuki's fastest lap of 1:23.039 on lap 120 out of 127 put him in 13th place on the time sheets.

Dickie Stanford, Test Team Manager, Williams F1:
"Our last day in Barcelona delivered another productive session for Nico and Kazuki, with Kazuki covering considerable mileage despite numerous red flags. The pair finalised systems checks to complete our scheduled development work for this week. Jerez will be our next destination in the first week of December for the final test of the year."

Frank Williams: ''We wouldn't have survived much longer if we would have had another year like 2006. But we were better than last year, although the way to the top is still a long one. We were able to reduce the DNF's but we still had too many technical problems.''

Williams is willing to close the gap to Ferrari at once: ''Why would one not be able to find a second over the wintertime ? Eventhough for us it's like a steep mountain to climb.'' He shows to be belligerent: ''Look at the history of wars. The jungle fighters in Vietnam brougt down the the mighty US.''

The 65 year old knows the importance of aerodynamics. ''Aerodynamics is everything. To get the car stable isn't an impossible job. We will get it right.''

(More realistically) he hopes to give Rosberg a car with which he can regularly finish in the points and sometimes on the podium also: ''We owe that to Nico.'' Williams is convined the German is as good as Hamilton: ''Yes, that's how I see it. Hamilton had an unproblematic way to Formula 1. He has always been driving topcars.'' McLaren was eager to have Rosberg to have the second seat but Williams categorically said no: ''How would I have to explain that to the sponsors and the people at the factory ? I tell them that we want to move forward again, and then I am to sell my best driver ? They would say I'm a babbler. Then I could just as well sell the whole company. Last year I might have thought about it because we were so short on cash, but that is no longer the case.''

Ending in front of engine supplier Toyota isn't enough: ''It's irrelevant whether or not we're in front of Toyota as long as we're not at the front anyway. I would be happy with succes for Toyota. They're our parner, hopefully a long term one.''

Williams biggest fear are the regulations in the new Concorde Agreement: ''I don't want four McLaren's driving against me. That could ruin me. Thefore I'm not interested in Ecclestone's reasoning that these teams would be paid less prize money. I want to prevent that this becomes reality. Otherwise there will soon be four McLaren's and four Ferrari's dominating the game.''

Williams convinced Ecclestone': ''Frank is right. If you want to be in Formula 1 you have to build you own cars.''

Rosberg: ''I'm happy where I am. We have made significant steps forward and I hope that we will be able to make further progress.''

''I would like to play a key-role in bringing Williams back to the top - exactly like Alonso did with Renault and Schumacher with Ferrari. To realise that with a team on this level is a bigger achievement than winning the worldtitle with the best car.''

Hey AFCA, I enjoy reading about the team but what are the sources for your posts?

Uh, let's see, AMuS for the first one and I believe motorsport-total for the second...

Karthikeyan to leave Williams
Despite again being offered the position

Narain Karthikeyan will not stay at Williams in 2008 as a test driver despite again being offered the position, according to his manager.

The 30-year-old Indian, who debuted for Jordan in 2005 but has since tested only part time for Sir Frank Williams' Grove based team, is also not in the running to race for countryman Vijay Mallya's Force India outfit next year.

Karthikeyan started testing for Williams in 2006 but would have been given even less cockpit time next season, manager Mark Perkins told the Asian Age.

"We have decided not to extend the partnership even if they are ready to renew the contract," he said, citing the traction control ban as one of the main reasons for the split.

"All the prime drivers will be looking to do more testing on the off season, so the test drivers will hardly get a chance next year," Perkins explained.

Several contenders are currently being considered for the vacant Force India seat for 2008, but Karthikeyan and countryman Karun Chandhok have both been ruled out.

Perkins said he did not know why Mallya, a prominent Indian businessman who earlier backed Karthikeyan's career, was not now considering Indian drivers.

Karthikeyan explained : "I am not in the fray and I am not even expecting a final minute call from Mallya for the Jerez test. I would have got the call a month ago if they really wanted me."

He added that his manager is in talks with "a few big teams". Karthikeyan's Williams contract expires on December 31.

Some quotes from espn...

"The balance of the year has been positive," Rosberg said. "In many ways, it's been a good year for me. As is normal during a long season, we had some ups and downs. Races seemed to start off well in the opening rounds of the season, but the results just weren't there.

"As the season progressed, though, we were able to capitalize on strong starting positions, get some good results and consistently collect championship points. So yes, it was a good year."

We've definitely made progress since last year and achieved that in a number of different ways," Rosberg said. "A lot of improvement came following some careful restructuring of the existing team and then by bringing a few very skilled and experienced new people onboard.

"From the very first tests, the FW29 was working pretty well, which allowed us to further develop it throughout the season, both at the factory and on the track."

The 2006 Williams FW28 was embarrassingly unreliable, and that was one area the team worked very hard on to improve with the 2007 FW29. Rosberg also felt far more comfortable with the chassis setup this year.

"One of the key things I really noticed this year was that, while the car was improving both mechanically and aerodynamically, we were also managing to set it up in the most advantageous way for most of the circuits," he explained.

"I was able to get the speed more consistently and, together with my engineers, we were able to set up the car to a balance that really suited my driving style, which meant I could really push for it."

Rosberg rounded off the season with a fourth place in Brazil, a race he rates as one the highlights of the year.

"Brazil has to be up there because it's where I achieved my best result in F1 so far, finishing fourth [after] having started in 10th," he recalled. "I had another good fight with the BMWs and I beat them fair and square with a well-executed overtaking maneuver going into the first corner."

"I don't think it would be the death of the team if Nico left," team co-owner Head said, "but as a competitive force, until we found somebody who could replace Nico, it would certainly be very difficult.

"And obviously it wouldn't give the right message to people inside our team either, in terms of people that we have put in significant positions, if we didn't have a driver whom they felt could make good use of the work they are doing. So it [letting Rosberg join a rival team] is something that neither Frank nor myself are even contemplating."

A1GP champion Nico Hülkenberg will test for Williams at Jerez.

Williams is still looking for a third driver...

for the wonderful quotes, AFCA.

In case Hülkenberg completes his two day test with Williams succesfully, then he's likely to get a testcontract. In case the team wants him, he'll have 10 testdays with the Grove-based squad in 2008. Which, according to his manager Weber is the right 'dosage' with the 20-year old also competing in the Formula 3 championship, from which he shouldn't be distracted too much. Weber also likes the fact that he wouldn't need to attend all the 18 races as reserve driver.

''Next year Nico should concentrate on the Formula 3 Eurosie.'' In this formula Hülkenberg is the title favourite. ''He has everything a racing driver needs, he's stubborn, ambitious, determined, he has a complete self-centered attitude. Technically he's very experienced and very analytical.''

Hülkenberg is said to be on BMW Sauber's wishlist also. Weber thinks that the problem with manufacturers is that they want the drivers to stay with them for the long term and endlessly use them as a PR and marketing tool. That's why speculations about a test with Ferrari were battered. ''With Williams Nico can 'shine' a lot better than with a big team like Ferrari. Look at Rosberg. With his great performances he made a name for himself. (Had Nico tested for Ferrari) setting fast laptimes than people would have said that everyone can be quick with a Ferrari.''

Today at Jerez, Hülkenberg was on the tenth spot untill he went straight in the gravel at turn four. This caused damage to the floor and the main brake cilinder. The repairment took till late in the afternoon.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by roadie
Wow, this article throws up a few interesting thoughts/issues:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63829


[QUOTE]Originally posted by Alan Baldwin
The two have something in common already, forming the only line-up in the sport comprised of two sons of former Grand Prix racers.[/QUOTE]

That's the strangest thing to say. Wasn't Baldwin not watching F1 in 1996?

Some words from Hülkenberg himself: ''The fascinating things are the G-forces, the acceleration power and the fact that everything comes at you so quickly.''

''I feel very very comfortable in the car, eventhough there are many buttons and lights !''

Weber once more: ''Between Williams and us it's a process of getting to know each other, finding out whether a further collaboration is possible.''

nice quotes afca

Isn't that a lovely quote? Great to hear a newcomer so excited and in awe at driving an F1 car!

The Icelandic Baugur Group (a clothing company) is in talks with Williams to partner the team.

The investment group with 75.000 employees and a € 16 billion turn over a year was to become Prodrive's main sponsor but obviously that project failed.

Baugar isn't completely new to Williams though, their long term sponsor Hamleys is also part of Baugur.

The shareholders of the team (Williams 70% and Head 30%) closed the financial gap with their own money in 2006. Now the team is healthy again they both want to retrieve their investment and increase the budget with money from elsewhere.

Meanwhile Williams extended its contract with Philips shavers. So there's some more continuity and steadiness there...

Rosberg: ''The team supports and trusts me completely, but I don't like the fact that I get a new teammate for the third time. They expect me to bring the team forward on the grid. For someone at the age of 22, like me, I don't think I'm doing too bad !''

''It's very positive that I'm linked to McLaren, every driver wants people to talk like that about him. But I don't have any intentions to leave Williams. I'm the absolutely number 1 here and I'm still very young.''

Good to hear about the new commercial agreements for Williams. Same for Rosberg as number 1 at the team. I guess they've found their own SChumacher?

Hülkenberg: ''After eight or ten laps you start to feel your neckmuscles. Juts incredible how fast you go.''

About his off track excursion yesterday: ''Coming out of the fourth corner I went a little bit wide on the outside and touched the kerbstones with the reartyres. Perhaps it was a bit wet (damp) there. In any case I went into the gravel.''

The 20-year old is used to driving without tc: ''But there's a lot more engine power here. No I understand why you need a lot of practice in the lower racing formula's. Incredible what you all need to be aware of in the cockpit. The switches, the lights, the data. And than the responsability. There are four trucks and 50 people just for two drivers at the trackside. And this car is so incredibily expensive. This really isn't a piece of cake.''

The German didn't put himself under pressure thinking about a possible testcontract: ''I wasn't thinking about that. I said to myself: it would be great if you get it;. If not, then I concentrate on the Formula 3 serie next year. I simply enjoyed driving in a Formula 1 car. It was such an awful lot of fun. I'm satisfied. With my laptime and the job I've done.''

Rosberg has apperantly extended his contract with Williams till 2010. ''I look forward to two more years with Williams.''

On the interest of McLaren: ''It is cool to be mentioned as the successor of a two time worldchampion. Eventhough I've learnt not to take it too seriously. In Formula 1 everything goes so quickly, tomorrow you can be the fool again.''

In terms of wages Rosberg has made a step forward also: ''For 2008 I didn't have such a favourable contract, because I signed it two years ago when I wanted to enter Formula 1 at any price. Now Williams has decided to give me a real good offer for the next two years. I've accepted that. Financially it's obviously considerably better for me.''