Williams declines to comment


By Andrew Hooper
January 14 2017

 
 Williams declines to comment
 

It has been several weeks since the reports commenced regarding the possibility that Williams driver Valtteri Bottas would be allowed to move to the Mercedes team replacing the retiring Nico Rosberg. Coming from these reports were others regarding how Felipe Massa would come out of retirement to replace Valtteri at Williams.

Also there was the news that Pat Symonds was leaving the Williams team as well as the further news that Paddy Lowe was leaving the Mercedes team which generated further speculation that he was moving to Williams.

Despite the continued waves of speculation on both the driver and technical front the  Williams has continued to not make any comment as to whether any of these reports are factual. Mercedes has also been silent on the teams 2017 driver line-up.

But Mercedes has now confirmed that Lowe had left the team to enter a  period of 'gardening leave'. Lowe said :""I am looking forward to a new challenge and wish everyone well at Mercedes."

But it is viewed that the length of this gardening leave hinges on whether the Williams and Mercedes teams can finalise the move of Valtteri Bottas. Speculation has even seen Lowe taking on a major role at Williams beyond the teams technical area and into the management of the Williams team. Further reports even have James Key moving to Williams in 2018.

"It's all so complicated," Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told the Swiss newspaper Blick.

In the lead-up to the commencement of 2017 testing the Williams team is facing some major changes in their staff but despite the continued nature of this speculation the Williams team has failed to neither confirm or deny any of them. Most of the reports have continued due to evidence been collected which points that certain events are likely, such as the report that had Valtteri seen at the Mercedes factory in what was presumed to be for a seat fitting for the 2017 car.

For the Williams team the lead-up to the 2017 season seemed to be locked away with Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll announced as drivers sometime back but now it looks like the team is facing some major changes they get ready for the pre-season resting as well as the launch of the 2017 FW40.

 

Williams declines to comment
Posted by: Williams F1 (IP Logged)
Date: 14/01/2017 14:00

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Re: Williams declines to comment
Posted by: Gunk (IP Logged)
Date: 14/01/2017 17:40

Quote:
"It's all so complicated," Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told the Swiss newspaper Blick.

I'm not really surprised by the delays, given all the pieces of the puzzle and the variables.

But will they get the deal done? Bottas was going to Renault, but that deal didn't get done for months and, prior to ROS retirement, it was thought he was nailed on for Renault in 2018.

Paddy Lowe was coming to Williams in 2013, until he wasn't.

Re: Williams declines to comment
Posted by: andy si (IP Logged)
Date: 15/01/2017 09:30

It's all down to being a shrewd business head.. we have some leverage at this point in time and we better use it, to get the most out of a possible deal.

We have potential available, clear view of the future and it's down to negotiation to make it hapend.. having it all splatered over the news will not serve Williams interest.

What good does it do to Williams if their business potential is clear to the competitor they are negotiating with?

Re: Williams declines to comment
Posted by: Mr. Pink (IP Logged)
Date: 15/01/2017 20:45

Here's a comment:
Eurosport : Williams wants to do 'right thing' for Bottas amidst Mercedes links - [www.eurosport.co.uk]

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8830/logoqz0.gif
Sir Frank: "It's what we do, we love doing it. It's like oxygen, it fixes you".

Re: Williams declines to comment
Posted by: Gunk (IP Logged)
Date: 15/01/2017 21:27

Well, it obviously is all but confirmed.

Funny, she doesn't mention that they blocked him from going to Renault as well.

Re: Williams declines to comment
Posted by: EagleF1 (IP Logged)
Date: 16/01/2017 11:10

[www.gpupdate.net]

that's as good as confirmation!

Re: Williams declines to comment
Posted by: Duffer (IP Logged)
Date: 16/01/2017 11:46

I like the information from the squirrel.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii244/jock298/Duffer_2Sig.png

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