I too fear for Williams. They are the last proper racing team out there in F1 now, in the sense that they aren’t manufacturer/large corporation-backed like the rest. Unfortunately that makes it difficult to compete. Eventually Force India’s megabucks will count and Williams will be the slowest team, I fear. Their hopes must be pinned on either (A) the complete reconstruction of the sport (under the guise of “cost-cutting” etc.) which would give them a chance, or, maybe just as likely (B) the implosion of the sport as the manufacturers begin to drop out – either simply due to cost or due to Mosely’s interfering to achieve (A).

Its doubtful Barrichello is responsible for Honda’s downturn. Since the appointment of Nick Fry to head the team, there has been a progressive downward slide ever since. The win in Hungary of 06, could easily have gone to Pedro Delarosa had he not been fueled too heavily.
The first signs things were going awry at Honda was after the appointment of Gill de Ferran. It became a comical act, the team, and all we saw was a total loss of direction and purpose.

Barrichello coming to the team at this same time, also brought some confusion, though not necessarily through any fault of his, Honda was unable to harmonize the feedback from both of the drivers regarding the developmental direction the cars should take. Barrichello had an idea of what direction the team should take, he had come from a multi championship winning team and thus had the requisite authority on a winning car’s characteristics. However, Honda’s engineers where unable to deliver on those tasks. It would seem like they were constantly moving back and forth between what each driver was suggesting and coming up with the worse compromise possible.

Barrichello with all his experience, should have been allowed to assume full authority in the development of the car, and Button providing some input. But with button being the lead driver and the one with whom Honda felt their immediate future rested on, they could not totally discount his own input.

In all, I still am of the belief that ultimate responsibility rests on the shoulders of Fry. He has not been able to get that team to work harmoniously. Granted, there was some resentment when Willis was sacked and Nakamoto was brought in. But I very much doubt that is the very reason why Honda is under performing. A team cannot progress if there are lots of disgruntled workers. The head must always instill discipline.
As for Button, I am unable conclude that he really has the ability to motivate the team towards achieving anything. I may not have much doubt in his driving ability, where I do have concern is in his ambition.

Come next year, with all the regulation change. KERS aside, practically every external aerodynamic device or contraption has been stripped off the cars. The cars are going to be easier to design and build, no longer are there going to be complicated analysis of interactions between those winglets and paddles and vanes. Honda may yet find themselves able to compete effectively once again.

Honda is a joke, what they did to Super Aguri (even starting it) is a bigger joke – but not funny.

Force India should be optimistic, but like Williams, they probably lack the resources to develop their Mclaren parts well during the year. Give them a couple of seasons and they might go somewhere with VJM’s expansion plans.