33 replies to this topic

[OfficeLinebacker]

I was struck by the similarity of Massa and Rubens' career trajectories, and the downward trajectory of Williams'  Without further ado, a poll.

[RosannaG]

Rob & Felipe radio conversations!     

[Smile17]

Felipe Massa is already a highlight. Can't get any better. I mean it. No sarcasm.

Edited by Smile17, 11 November 2013 - 20:18.

[michaelmyers]

"Felipe, Valtteri is faster than you."

[Kingshark]

A podium finish me thinks. I have a feeling that Williams will be strong come to 2014.

[PayasYouRace]

Felipe becoming World Champion at Interlagos 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh you're serious. I guess a podium or two if the car's good. A win if the car's really good.

 

Edit: I should warn you though. As anyone who frequents the Indycar threads knows, my predictions are not to be taken lightly.

Edited by PayasYouRace, 11 November 2013 - 20:37.

[dau]

Massa scoring their first point at his home race.

[F1ultimate]

Massa has struggled to score podiums in this year's Ferrari. It doubt that he will have it any easier in a 2014 Williams.

[sopa]

Weird thing is I think they could be pretty handy in the beginning of the season with Mercedes engines. However, they could be prone to unreliability too. Granted, new engines, but still a new manufacturer partnership for them, who don't know each other that well yet. Remember the 2006 Williams-Cosworth combination? New engine partner, new V8 engines, lots of problems despite the car being actually fast.

[noikeee]

I can't decide whether Massa will be rejuvenated by the thought of being lead driver in a prestigious (if uncompetitive team), or cruise around to the paycheck like a Jarno Trulli thinking of his vineyard.

 

Sadly I'm leaning more towards the latter - shame as with motivation he still has the talent to be within the top 8 or 10 drivers in Formula 1. I think his mojo died the day he realized he was never going to be world champion again: Hockenheim 2010. He's clearly improved his performance substantially the last few races as he had to drive to remain in F1, but now he has his contract signed, why bother putting that much effort for 8th place at best?

[billm99uk]

Bottas scoring their only point of the season at Monaco

[Risil]

He's clearly improved his performance substantially the last few races as he had to drive to remain in F1, but now he has his contract signed, why bother putting that much effort for 8th place at best?

 

Sometimes from the outside "drives fast at contract time" is indistinguishable from "team doesn't give a shit about his car updates".

Edited by Risil, 11 November 2013 - 23:28.

[scheivlak]

Massa's Williams being shoved to half an inch from the pitwall by Fernando at the 2014 Hungarian GP.

[OfficeLinebacker]

I should have posted "Scoring points" as an option. 

[George Costanza]

Massa getting a victory.

[SR388]

I said other. It would be Frank Williams announcing that he is selling the team to Cadillac, and thus ending the sad state of what the former great team has become. 

[George Costanza]

I said other. It would be Frank Williams announcing that he is selling the team to Cadillac, and thus ending the sad state of what the former great team has become. 
 

 

Lol... Caddy F1?

[SR388]

Lol... Caddy F1?

 

Heck yeah! Finally bring a classy car manufacture to F1. 

[garagetinkerer]

I think Williams may surprise people... may be good for a couple of wins if the package comes together. Mercedes engines have done a whole lot of good to Force India, and Williams is one of the winningest teams in F1, so it could still make a proper comeback.

[Jimisgod]

Bottas thumping Massa in the standings.

[Jackmancer]

I can't decide whether Massa will be rejuvenated by the thought of being lead driver in a prestigious (if uncompetitive team), or cruise around to the paycheck like a Jarno Trulli thinking of his vineyard.

 

 

After eight years of Ferrari, I don't think Williams will pay that well for Massa to let him think about the paycheck; Massa went their to race, not to make money. Otherwise he might have stayed as third driver at Ferrari, which for Ferrari would be a good thing as well, with their two 'old' drivers next year with backpain.

[V3TT3L]

Is WilliamsF1 the new BrawnGP in 2014 ?

 

I believe Massa can win some races and lead the WDC in its early days.

 

Since Mercedes is a very powerfull engine, I believe in Massa getting the front row in some races and maybe winning a few of them.

However, since the same powertrain need to endure more races in 2014, I believe Williams will ignore/surpass their mileage quota enrly in the year to get good results.

Showboat to get more sponsers. 

 

But then, they will pay dearly at the end of season with grid penalties for using more engines/gearboxes.

 

Since the chassis is designed by Symonds, the car might be good too.

Edited by V3TT3L, 12 November 2013 - 05:53.

[packapoo]

Yet another wheel falling off following a pit stop.

[SpartanChas]

I think by far the worst thing to come out of 2009 is the ludicrous idea that any team can go from nowhere to world champions in a year.

Getting regular points and beating Sauber might happen, but winning races because of the Mercedes engine? Not when McLaren and mercedes also have it.

I hope they do a lot better than this year though because I like Williams.

[Zoetrope]

How should I know?   Let's wait for Jerez tests first.

[Baddoer]

Well I can see them improving a little enough to score minor points regularly.

[PayasYouRace]

winningest

 

I hate you.

 

Sorry reflex response.

[PayasYouRace]

Is WilliamsF1 the new BrawnGP in 2014 ?

 

I believe Massa can win some races and lead the WDC in its early days.

 

Since Mercedes is a very powerfull engine, I believe in Massa getting the front row in some races and maybe winning a few of them.

However, since the same powertrain need to endure more races in 2014, I believe Williams will ignore/surpass their mileage quota enrly in the year to get good results.

Showboat to get more sponsers. 

 

But then, they will pay dearly at the end of season with grid penalties for using more engines/gearboxes.

 

Since the chassis is designed by Symonds, the car might be good too.

 

Even if (and it's a big if) the Mercedes engine is as superior as everyone seems to expect it to be, that's a lot of progress to ask of Williams. I don't think I can be anywhere near that optimistic about them.

[DampMongoose]

I hate you.

 

Sorry reflex response.

 

+1

[Nonesuch]

With Williams being so far behind any realistic shots at the podium this year, it's hard to see how they can turn this around for 2014. The bigger and better funded teams are developing their cars, too.

 

We all know 2009 was a big shake-up, but that was not in the least because the two leading teams of 2007 and 2008 didn't figure out how to cheat... or I should say, develop a double diffuser. We can't know at this point if any similar shenanigans will appear next year.

 

So I voted for a good qualifying result. That said, I would have preferred being able to choose 'a good points finish'. That would seem to me a realistic expectation for a highlight of the year - which already implies it won't be a regular thing.

 

We'll see. I hope, of course, that they can challenge at the front. The more teams that can the better.

Edited by Nonesuch, 12 November 2013 - 09:52.

[OneAndOnly]

Bottas smashing Massa in WDC.

[Mox]

Bottas could start by smashing Pastor. So far that isn't really happening much, is it?

[SanDiegoGo]

Not looking promising. William are a shadow of their former selves and a new driver is not going to turn that around, even Vettel et al wouldn't be much use.

 

If Brawn came in as a trouble shooter and at least redirected them then they could start to rebuild and maybe become a player again, but time is running out.

[V3TT3L]

The end of the Blow Diffuser might renew the hopes of WilliamsF1.