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Should Williams become a McLaren B team?


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#1 pacificquay

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 13:51

I see Williams is concerned about the impact of B teams and collaborations unfairly disadvantaging it if other teams can share knowledge around the budget cap in future.

 

Simple solution - as of 2021 both McLaren and Williams will have Mercedes power, so Williams could effectively become McLaren's B team...



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#2 sgtkate

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 13:53

How about McLaren becoming a B team of Williams? :clap:



#3 PayasYouRace

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 13:55

You shouldn't be going outside right now, but you need some fresh air. Maybe open your windows.

 

Maybe Ferrari could become Mercedes' B team while we're at it?



#4 Spillage

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 14:15

I don't like the idea of Williams being anybody's B-team, not least Mclaren. It'd be like Manchester United becoming Liverpool's reserves.



#5 Collombin

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 14:21

Do the English rugby team Wasps have a B team?

#6 Loosenut

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 14:22

If that ever happens, I'm gonna invite Joe Bonamassa to play rythmn guitar in my band..



#7 Anderis

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 14:26

It makes no sense whatsoever when McLaren doesn't even have a works team engine deal.



#8 Marklar

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 14:30

at best (or worst) they are both going to be b-teams of Mercedes. McLaren is in no position to have one.



#9 Beri

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 15:11

Williams becoming a B team isn't something that is going to happen.
But Williams becoming Wokings B team? Hell does freeze over and Sir Frank will walk again before that will happen.

#10 BRG

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 18:55

Do the English rugby team Wasps have a B team?

Yes, it is called the Academy Squad.  the top team is the Senior Squad.



#11 FNG

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 19:12

McLaren is a B team...



#12 charly0418

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 19:16

Becoming a B team of a midfield team seems like a bad idea

#13 Collombin

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 19:31

Yes, it is called the Academy Squad. the top team is the Senior Squad.


Thank you. I don't know if you missed the joke or thought it too poor to qualify as a joke.

#14 messy

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 20:04

Haha, no. Next question!

#15 HeadFirst

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 20:13

Only if Mercedes becomes an engine supplier only, with McLaren as the A team. And only if Williams decides to move up the grid, instead of remaining independent. Perhaps changes in the rules may some day give them no choice.



#16 PayasYouRace

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 21:15

Only if Mercedes becomes an engine supplier only, with McLaren as the A team. And only if Williams decides to move up the grid, instead of remaining independent. Perhaps changes in the rules may some day give them no choice.

 

Yeah that's Williams problem. They like being at the back. /s



#17 chrisj

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Posted 27 March 2020 - 21:22

They'll go broke or down in flames before that happens. There's a lot of things Williams should have done over the years, this isn't one of them.



#18 kumo7

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Posted 28 March 2020 - 07:42

Chinese style will be to place the entire teams operational under FOM. 



#19 pitlanepalpatine

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Posted 28 March 2020 - 15:36

200.gif

 

Considering that would effectively make them a C? team nope. If you wanna tie yourself to someone it's an engine manufacturer. Mclaren is nowhere near redbull to justify this kind of relationship. If you feel bad and just want to give them money I'm sure you can post it to them. :rotfl:



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#20 Victor

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Posted 28 March 2020 - 17:34

Of course not, have you been drinking?



#21 lustigson

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Posted 28 March 2020 - 18:16

Blasphemer!!!!1!!  :drunk:



#22 pup

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Posted 28 March 2020 - 18:48

Like others have said, I don’t know if it’s really possible to become a B Team to a team that isn’t a manufacturer. McLaren are in much better financial condition than Williams, and have better talent and resources; but I don’t think that gives them A Team status. On the other hand, STR was effectively a B Team to Red Bull when they weren’t a factory team, so never say never, I guess.

 

But, for those who seem appalled that Williams would accept B Team status - Claire’s Williams is not Sir Frank’s Williams, and she’s already telegraphed her willingness to put the team into a B Team role, if only someone would take them.  And I think that if Renault commits internally to continue, they’d be smart to give her a call.



#23 RekF1

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Posted 28 March 2020 - 20:19

The thing is, all manufacturers, bar Renault, have a B-team already. With limited budget from next season, Merc will have data from RP, Williams and Now MacLaren. I think it's a long way back to the top and their best bet is to accept either being in Mercedes pocket and midfield status for the next gen, hope that Mercedes pack in and just supply PU's, or go with Renault or Honda.

#24 baddog

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Posted 28 March 2020 - 22:28

Why would someone become a B team to a team that are not a works team even and not within shouting distance of winning jack ****? Makes no sense at all.



#25 Beri

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Posted 29 March 2020 - 00:39

Having laughed for some days about the audacity of the OP, I did stumble upon some articles when Wolff bought himself into Williams. Which, tied with HWA, was more than just a lucky deal.
The following opinion is something I truly believe:

Williams is already Mercedes' B team. And as a matter of my stubborn opinion, I think Williams was Mercedes A plan to become the factory supported team, untill they stumbled upon the chance to take over Brawn. Relationships between McLaren and Mercedes were as good as dead when Dennis sold a large stake to some Bahrainis instead of selling them to Daimler in 2008. Also developing a supercar without Mercedes involved must have been a blow to Stuttgart.

I sincerely think Mercedes wanted to switch to Williams around 2011/2012. Handle off the sale of McLaren stock and get the hell out of Woking, get a puppet guy (Wolff) in at Williams, transition to the new team and build it up.
But then the opportunity of Brawn came along and Williams was no longer needed. But was compensated with a lengthy and undisclosed (at first) engine deal and Mercedes never did bat an eye when it came to deals favoring Williams.
Wolff went to Mercedes once the future of the Mercedes team after 2013 was granted and Williams was well compensated.
Mercedes became Williams supplier at a time everyone thought Williams would stick with Renault.
Mercedes needed a new and capable driver after Rosberg left, got a Williams driver and paid a royal amount of money to Williams.
Mercedes found themselves a lead DTM driver in a Williams testdriver.
Williams houses the next big thing by Mercedes in one of their seats.

And there are more examples. But summing this up, hopefully will open some eyes to people that Williams is a B team already. And a B team as much as Williams allow it to be.

Edited by Beri, 29 March 2020 - 01:01.


#26 AustinF1

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Posted 29 March 2020 - 06:27

This is as stupid as Renault wanting McLaren to become their B team.



#27 maximilian

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Posted 29 March 2020 - 18:05

As it is right now, Williams is its own stand-alone C-Team, so things could only get better...



#28 Mohican

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Posted 29 March 2020 - 18:26

As it is right now, Williams will soon be either sold or bankrupt.

Only thing is,there are no buyers of F1 teams as long as FIA|FOM cannot make it a viable business.



#29 Beri

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Posted 30 March 2020 - 09:11

As it stands, all the nay-sayers have been proven wrong time after time after time after time. "Williams will be bankrupt", "Williams should buy more parts from team X", "Claire shoud pac up her stuff and leave"

 

As it stands, Williams (as a listed company) has written black numbers on more than just a few occasions. 

As it stands, Williams has a major title sponsor. And no it doesnt matter if you know the product or not, they are paying hefty (Unlike some fizzy drinks company).

As it stands, Williams is still here.

 

So all the other stuff you guys talk about, is just subjective drizzle from your saliva when ramming on your keyboards to post that crap.

 

But let me add an opinion:

As it stands, it is likely that a majority of people up here do have an affection for Williams. Whether it is due to the past or not, that doesnt matter. Not many teams can say this.



#30 BRG

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Posted 30 March 2020 - 13:13

As it stands, it is likely that a majority of people up here do have an affection for Williams. Whether it is due to the past or not, that doesn't matter. Not many teams can say this.

If only Williams had steered well clear of the toxic Kubica and his deluded fans, it would not have become such a hate-figure.