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As usual you miss my point. All of the listed teams have capable race ready drivers to jump in the car at Malaysia if called upon to do so. Williams do not seem to have drivers to call upon should they need one for Malaysia. Clare Williams says definitely not Susie, l wonder if she is hinting at Alex Lynn to do the honors.
It is the strategic position of Williams for unforeseen eventualities that is in question. Magnussen is doing that job in the absence of Alonso.I agree with you on this point as l have already conceded this point to Nick. I struggle with one point you make though, that all teams are in a position whereby they will not be able to put one of their support drivers into the race car at race weekend if one of their main drivers is unable to drive. I think this is not the case, because if you look at a majority of the teams on the grid, they mostly have capable race ready test or reserve drivers;
Mercedes – Pascal Werhlein,
Redbull – Sabastian Buemi,
Ferrari – Esteban Gutierrez as reserve driver [not vergne],
Sauber has Raffaelle Marchello [test driver],
Maclaren – Kevin Magnussen[reserve driver],
Lotus – Jolyon Palmer [Reserve],
Williams – Susie Wolff [Sky has her down as reserve driver, Williams website describe her as Test Driver]All of the chaps listed above are intended by their team to step into the car when the need arises. All bar Susie. My point is the major teams all have race ready drivers on stanby to race where one of their main drivers is unable to race. Williams it seems is claim that they are not in that position. That is the core discussion of this thread. Anything else is irrelevant.
I agree with your point about the Vergne situation. The name Vergne came up as an example only not a suggestion as you seem to have taken it. Your argument is on the periphery of the core discussion of the thread so l am not sure l want to duel on it. I however would like to explore your comments about Susie Wolff. If as you say she is not good enough and you also claim Clare Williams believe that to be so [not sure how you got that info], my original question was why keep her when they could get a race ready drive like Vergne [when he was free] or Van der garde [who maybe free] or any other race ready driver like Senna etc. This seem to me to be the sort of strategic foresight needed to ensure Williams have a good enough driver to step into the car if one of their main driver is unable to for any reason. This, my friend is the core of the discussion. As it stands they may not have such a driver or at least one they have some level of confidence in to allow into their car.
safeeuropeanhome, firstly we have moved on from Australia. secondly, Alex Lynn is a development driver, not a test driver. Which puts Susie Wolff [Test Driver] in pole position for any race seat opening that comes along. I think you should read the thread carefully before you comment arratically. The thread is about Williams readiness to take advantage of all opportunity that is available at future race weekends. It is about Williams beating Ferrari to 2nd place in the constructors championship this year. It is all positive and constructive criticism. And Jean-Eric Vergne being test driver at Ferrari may not prevent him from doing one race for Williams, contract and politics allowing ofcourse. Van der Garde’s contract with Sauber as it stands may not be honored by Sauber, and he would jump at any chance to race for Williams a top end team.
About Susie Wolff, your assessment is unfair considering 17 year old Max Vesterpen has a lesser racing record and experience and is racing a F1 car very well l must add. With the number of testing mileage the Susie has the FIA would most likely grant her a superlicence if requested. It is this kind of thinking that we are hoping to get beyond by wishing Susie or Jorda is given a chance to race. This idea that women cannot race a F1 car when a 17 year old can is not tenable. Besides we would not find out if they are not given a chance to race in the first place.Steady Robert, this is a banter not an argument. Nick l shall make time to investigate this further. I shall turn my attention to Malaysia as Australia is gone now. Why is Clare Williams saying Susie is not going to race in Malaysia if Bottas is still unable to race? If not Susie then who is likely to get the nod? Maybe they are going to race one car again at Malaysia.
Maybe Alex Lynn will get the nod to take over the 2nd car. The question is, does Williams have a capable driver to take over the 2nd car in Malaysia if Bottas is unable to drive? Clearly Clare Williams do not think Susie is up to the job, is Alex Lynn up to the job and by what criteria. Or are they going to bring in someone like Van Der Garde or Jean-Éric Vergne for one race? Running one car in Malaysia is not a smart option they know it and you know it.
My qualms is the obvious lack of confidence in their test driver which gives me cause to ask why have they not snapped up Jean-Éric Vergne who is clearly available. If opposite is the case, then l see no reason why they are not giving Susie Wolff at opportunity she has spent years preparing for.I think the rules would have allowed a replacement for Bottas to start from the pit lane as they did not partake in the qualifying sessions. More or less what would have happened if Manor Marussia were to wish to take part in the race after missing the quali sessions. The F1 organisers want as many cars on the grid as possible as do the fans.
Well Williams have to gamble smartly for the rest of the season or they shall finish behind Ferrari with a car better than the Ferrari at this stage. You have to bear in mind that Ferrari are going to throw alot of money and resources to developing the car during the season. One would expect them to make up their deficit to Williams and surpass them before we get to the european races. The 2015 Ferrari package; the chassis and drive unit seem to have more scope for development. There is more speed inherent in the Ferrari 2015 package. Hence Williams have to make hay now they have the advantage. They cannot afford to throw away opportunities like they did in Australia while taking on the might of Ferrari. This Ferrari team is quite a different team from the Ferrari of 2014. They energized by the arrival of Vettel and a new team boss [Arrivabene] and other new personel.There was no rules that prevented Williams from putting Susie Wolff in the car for the race. She took part in the weekend session and had a coming together with Felipe Nasr l recall during one of the free practise sessions. That make her qualified to drive during the race if permitted by the team. The FIA would not have prevented Susie from racing. Williams did not even attempted to clarify this fact with the FIA as far as l know. More so, Clare Williams has said quite clearly that Susie Wolff shall not be racing in malaysia if Bottas is unable to race at Sepang. This clearly a team decision. the interesting thing is that they may find a male driver with lesser experience of the car than Susie to race in Malaysia. And this would underline my point.
I think the claim by Williams is that Susie is the test driver and not the spare driver. That said, the team had two additional drivers available to them for the Australian GP, namely; Susie Wolff and Alex Lynn. The team does not have a spare driver, such a position has never existed in Williams in the last 5 years, as far as l know. Test drivers typically perform the function of the spare drivers as they have as much knowledge of the car as the main drivers. The interesting thing is they did not use any of their additional drivers to fill the vacant 2nd car and do not seem to be looking to do so in Malaysia if a similar scenario as Australia arises.
This is a situation that cannot go unnoticed. There is something amis with Williams and their support driver lineup. However way you look at it, it still remains that Williams are not prepared for eventualities where they do not have one of their main driver available on race day and this is reflected on the constructors championship leader board.David, the defeatist aspect of Williams weekend is not having the fighting attitude to appreciate the potential for points. They have nothing to lose by letting their test driver have a go. At worst she would come 12th and last which is no different from not racing the 2nd car at all. At least they would have won the fans respect and appreciation for trying. Not trying when they have a capable driver available is defeatist in my opinion.
Nick l would call it poor preparation for all eventualities. William should have a driver on standby to ensure they have two cars in the race if one of their top two is unable to race for any reason. Which ever way you look at it, Williams has not ensure they take the most points possible this weekend. And don’t get me wrong, l am a Williams fan, not a happy one l must add.
Sauber with their two rookies are well deservedly 3rd because they had two cars on the grid. There were cheap points to be had this weekend and Williams missed out on obtaining the most from the opportunity. The right winning attitude, great preparation and determination to win was what l remember of Williams of old. I can’t see that at the moment.There is a new grapevine that Hamilton is linked to a Ferrari seat. A swap of Alonso to Merc and Hamilton to Ferrari is what l am hearing ;-)
Yes, l have heard the one about tires always being a factor in the outcome of races for as long as f1 has existed. But there has never been an era before the Pirrelli one when the wheel to wheel racing has been inhibited by tires as much as this one. Some drivers like Kimi is not bothered by the tires so much, but then that is one element that puts the Lotus in the mix with Ferrari and Redbull this season. So its no surprise he would say he is happy. With anything, there will be gainer and losers.
Yes, the Pirrelli tires presents some mid field teams an opportunity to get close enough to the front pack, to allow them to capitalize on any failure of a front pack team to perform on race day. Force India seem to be demonstrating that trend at the mo.
But at the same token, it is a heavy burden back of the pack team. Having aero disadvantage and tire problems as well will root them permanently where they are. Another consideration, is that it must have an impact on cost of running the team, if the team must chase a tire grip mirage through the year, which is counter intuitive to the FIA cost saving initiative.
Come sunday, 3 drivers will grace the podium, they would be happy that time round. But one thing is clear, the tires this season are more extreme than last year’s tires. It will take a serious casualty to emphasize this fact unfortunately.
