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Sir Patrick Head


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#1 maverick69

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 10:44

Cannot find a thread on it (if so, I'll delete).

 

But, congratulations! 

 

No matter what you think on the relevance of knighthoods - Sir Pat is a legend, and one of the old-school engineers who have brought so much to our sport.

 

Apparently his bollockings are legendary....... providing you're not on the end of them.

 

There must be a case for Ross Brawn and Ron Dennis though  :up:



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#2 Lotus53B

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 10:57

I didn't hear about that - cheers for the heads up.  I'm not a big fan of the honours system (I myself have been unfairly passed over in favour of less deserving individuals for nearly half a century), but recognising folk who make significant contributions is a good thing, and for Patrick, thoroughly deserved.

 

Ross has OBE, Ron a CBE, but I think that they both deserve a wee bit more



#3 Hans V

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 11:04

To use Sir Patricks own words; "Bloody Hell!"

#4 PayasYouRace

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 11:52

It's only right that Sir Frank should be joined by Sir Patrick.  :clap:



#5 blackmme

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 12:02

Brilliant news, thoroughly well deserved. Congratulations Sir Patrick.

Now we await:
Sir John Surtees
Sir Ron Dennis
Sir Adrian Newey

And of course

Sir Lewis Hamilton or perhaps Lord Lewis of Croydon? : D

Once again congrats to Sir Patrick

Regards Mike

#6 MaxisOne

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 16:44

I think Ron's name will come up as soon as he retires... 

 

Looking forward to Ross, Adrian and Ron and i have no objection to Mr Surtees (he's just before my time) 



#7 BillBald

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Posted 13 June 2015 - 22:47

I didn't hear about that - cheers for the heads up.  I'm not a big fan of the honours system (I myself have been unfairly passed over in favour of less deserving individuals for nearly half a century), but recognising folk who make significant contributions is a good thing, and for Patrick, thoroughly deserved.

 

Ross has OBE, Ron a CBE, but I think that they both deserve a wee bit more

 

Hear, hear.

 

Or maybe 'there, there'



#8 mzvztag

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Posted 14 June 2015 - 18:41

An unpleasant but capable individual with undeniable merits in our beloved sport but whose time has passed so the outdated and petty-bourgeois recognition comes at the right moment....for those who care.

Edited by mzvztag, 14 June 2015 - 18:56.


#9 TIPO61

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Posted 14 June 2015 - 22:01

RonZo? Oh I don't think so.



#10 ClubmanGT

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Posted 14 June 2015 - 22:57

Sir Lewis Hamilton or perhaps Lord Lewis of Croydon? : D
 

 

Sir Lewis of not-Croydon!



#11 pacificquay

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Posted 15 June 2015 - 09:14

An unpleasant but capable individual with undeniable merits in our beloved sport but whose time has passed so the outdated and petty-bourgeois recognition comes at the right moment....for those who care.

 

Patrick Head unpleasant?



#12 maverick69

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Posted 16 June 2015 - 07:18

Patrick Head unpleasant?

 

Indeed. Perhaps the poster has had a bit of a run-in with him?

 

Those who I know who are on first name terms with him say that he is very strong willed, and a bit of a "big beast" - but not unpleasant or a bully as a person. It's just that at work - it's his way, or the highway. If you screw up by trying your best then he's fine. If you screw up by being a numpty then you get the hairdryer.



#13 taran

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Posted 16 June 2015 - 08:52

Indeed. Perhaps the poster has had a bit of a run-in with him?

 

Those who I know who are on first name terms with him say that he is very strong willed, and a bit of a "big beast" - but not unpleasant or a bully as a person. It's just that at work - it's his way, or the highway. If you screw up by trying your best then he's fine. If you screw up by being a numpty then you get the hairdryer.

 

That's not what most drivers say about him. Allegedly, Head is/was very opinionated about setups and would routinely ignore driver's preferences because 'he' knew best. According to the stories about him, Head got along best with Jones, also an abrasive personality.

It took either an established champion like Piquet or a driver who wasn't easily impressed like Keke Rosberg or Villeneuve to overrule him and go their own way.

 

People like Laffite and Frentzen all have had their differences with Head. And all were succesful with other teams which did listen to them. In that regard, he seems more like an office bully. How can you try your best if Head decides how you are allowed to show your best?



#14 maverick69

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Posted 16 June 2015 - 10:25

That's not what most drivers say about him. Allegedly, Head is/was very opinionated about setups and would routinely ignore driver's preferences because 'he' knew best. According to the stories about him, Head got along best with Jones, also an abrasive personality.

It took either an established champion like Piquet or a driver who wasn't easily impressed like Keke Rosberg or Villeneuve to overrule him and go their own way.

 

People like Laffite and Frentzen all have had their differences with Head. And all were succesful with other teams which did listen to them. In that regard, he seems more like an office bully. How can you try your best if Head decides how you are allowed to show your best?

 

You've basically just said what I said apart from the "office bully" part.

 

Williams, and Sir Pat in particular have always seen the drivers as employees - and have little time for fluffing egos. As for the set-up thing: Jaques went his own way and nearly screwed the championship in a car that was easily the best on the grid. It should also be noted that Piquet, JV and Rosberg never went on to anything after the left Williams.

 

So whether you agree with the Williams/Head philosophy to F1 racing or not - it doesn't make the guy a major league asshole to all people...... unlike at least one of those drivers you have mentioned IMHO.

 

Apparently he's a big fluffy bear once you get him out of work and stick a bottle of nice red in front of him  :)



#15 Gilles4Ever

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Posted 17 November 2015 - 15:52

Arise sir knight! SIR Patrick Head received his investiture at Buckingham Palace today.



#16 MustangSally

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Posted 17 November 2015 - 17:22

I always liked the guy . . . a little brusque and plain speaking, perhaps . . .  but his passion was always engineering



#17 BRG

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Posted 17 November 2015 - 17:28

 

Arise sir knight! SIR Patrick Head received his investiture at Buckingham Palace today.

 

Yet still no Sir John Surtees.  Being an unpleasant bullying clod gets you a K, but being the only man to win WCs on two and four wheels doesn't.   :down:



#18 SophieB

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Posted 17 November 2015 - 21:16


WILLIAMS RACINGVerified account[/size]@WilliamsRacing

Sir Patrick Head was at Buckingham Palace today to receive his knighthood for services to British motorsport

CUCbZi-UEAACm6j.jpg



#19 jonpollak

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Posted 18 November 2015 - 03:46

An unpleasant but capable individual with undeniable merits in our beloved sport but whose time has passed so the outdated and petty-bourgeois recognition comes at the right moment....for those who care.

 


What a tasteless reply.

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#20 SophieB

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Posted 18 November 2015 - 12:52

Yet still no Sir John Surtees.  Being an unpleasant bullying clod gets you a K, but being the only man to win WCs on two and four wheels doesn't.   :down:

 

I wish he'd get one too if only to stop every single other thread about someone being honoured in F1 being hijacked.



#21 f1RacingForever

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Posted 19 November 2015 - 04:57

When will Ross get knighted I wonder

#22 Glengavel

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Posted 19 November 2015 - 10:22

Yet still no Sir John Surtees.  Being an unpleasant bullying clod gets you a K, but being the only man to win WCs on two and four wheels doesn't.   :down:

 

Maybe he was offered and turned it down? "It's been half a century and you've only just got round to it? Eff off." Although I'm sure he would couch it in more polite terms.