Williams-Toyota
07-27-2006, 12:49 PM
#1
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Williams-Toyota
Worst kept secret in motorsports. Williams has secured a 3 year works engine supply from Toyota. No word on whether or not it will be branded Lexus.
Who will be faster next year Toyota or Williams?
Who will be faster next year Toyota or Williams?
07-28-2006, 07:59 AM
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I'm gonna say Toyota will be faster but Williams will get more points in 07, how's that?
07-28-2006, 02:51 PM
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Actually, I was serious. Toyota is pretty fast in a straight line but that doesn't mean much if you can't score, which I believe Williams will outshine Toyota Racing.
08-02-2006, 10:56 AM
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Williams just announced that their 2007 drivers will be Wurz and Rosberg! I think this is a great move by Williams.
Wurz>Webber
Where does this lead Webber? Not too many seats are open, and they are all based on where Raikkonen will end up.
Wurz>Webber
Where does this lead Webber? Not too many seats are open, and they are all based on where Raikkonen will end up.
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08-02-2006, 10:58 AM
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Isn't that incredible? I never saw this move coming by Williams. I just saw the story and figured you may have posted something about it here already FC so here's the ITV announcement:
Alex Wurz will partner Nico Rosberg in the 2007 Williams race line-up after the team sensationally announced on Wednesday that it will not be continuing its relationship with Mark Webber beyond the end of this season.
Wurz will step up from his current role as the team’s test and reserve driver, which he has held since joining the Grove-based squad from McLaren at the end of last year.
Webber’s future is unclear – but with Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen now seemingly set to team up at Ferrari, Fernando Alonso’s vacated Renault seat is wide open for the Flavio Briatore-managed Australian to secure.
Explaining Wurz’s promotion, team owner Frank Williams said: “Alex brings us important technical continuity and understanding of the car and as well as being an excellent communicator with our engineers, he is ultra-competitive during the Friday ‘full tank’ practice sessions.
“Alex will be a great racing driver for us as he is one of the few men I have seen in a wheel-banging confrontation with Michael Schumacher and come out on top!”
Williams also confirmed that Rosberg will be kept on for 2007 after a sporadically impressive rookie campaign convinced the team of the 21-year-old German’s potential.
“Retaining Nico for next year was not a tough decision,” Williams said.
“He has shown great promise so far in his debut season and I know he will build on this with every race.”
The team made it clear that Webber will definitely see out the season, ruling out a repeat of the Montoya/McLaren scenario whereby the Colombian was replaced by Pedro de la Rosa two days after his shock announcement that he would be switching to NASCAR.
Frank Williams paid tribute to Webber for his stalwart efforts since joining the team in 2005.
“As much as taking great pleasure in confirming Alex and Nico for next season,
I must also commend Mark Webber for his contribution to the team over the past two seasons, as he has been a credit to himself and Williams and has never let up in his pursuit of competitive success,” Williams said.
“I know Mark will give his all until the end of the season and we wish him well in his future arrangements.”
Alex Wurz will partner Nico Rosberg in the 2007 Williams race line-up after the team sensationally announced on Wednesday that it will not be continuing its relationship with Mark Webber beyond the end of this season.
Wurz will step up from his current role as the team’s test and reserve driver, which he has held since joining the Grove-based squad from McLaren at the end of last year.
Webber’s future is unclear – but with Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen now seemingly set to team up at Ferrari, Fernando Alonso’s vacated Renault seat is wide open for the Flavio Briatore-managed Australian to secure.
Explaining Wurz’s promotion, team owner Frank Williams said: “Alex brings us important technical continuity and understanding of the car and as well as being an excellent communicator with our engineers, he is ultra-competitive during the Friday ‘full tank’ practice sessions.
“Alex will be a great racing driver for us as he is one of the few men I have seen in a wheel-banging confrontation with Michael Schumacher and come out on top!”
Williams also confirmed that Rosberg will be kept on for 2007 after a sporadically impressive rookie campaign convinced the team of the 21-year-old German’s potential.
“Retaining Nico for next year was not a tough decision,” Williams said.
“He has shown great promise so far in his debut season and I know he will build on this with every race.”
The team made it clear that Webber will definitely see out the season, ruling out a repeat of the Montoya/McLaren scenario whereby the Colombian was replaced by Pedro de la Rosa two days after his shock announcement that he would be switching to NASCAR.
Frank Williams paid tribute to Webber for his stalwart efforts since joining the team in 2005.
“As much as taking great pleasure in confirming Alex and Nico for next season,
I must also commend Mark Webber for his contribution to the team over the past two seasons, as he has been a credit to himself and Williams and has never let up in his pursuit of competitive success,” Williams said.
“I know Mark will give his all until the end of the season and we wish him well in his future arrangements.”
08-02-2006, 11:07 AM
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What an unusual career Wurz has. It's rare for someone to get a full time F-1 drive after not racing regularly for so long. After being dropped by Benetton in 2000(?), all he did was do test drive roles. I think maybe he raced once or twice for McLaren when Montoya was out 'injured.' 
for perseverance.
for perseverance.
08-02-2006, 11:26 AM
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Also unusual b/c his size dictates the size of the car's cockpit b/c his legs are so freakin' long.
08-02-2006, 11:32 AM
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Yeah, Wurz is very tall. More than 6'? It's a good time for Williams engineers to go back to the drawing board for the 2007 car, since they've also got to fit the Toyota engine now.
08-02-2006, 11:38 AM
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I've always kinda lukewarm to Weber. I've never seen the flashes of brilliance he supposedly has, kinda overrated like a few others who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty. He's managed by Flav so maybe he'll end up in a Renault then we can see how good he is against Fisi.
08-02-2006, 12:41 PM
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Webber's over hyped F1 career is based on his debut race in Melbourne, where he finished in the points for lowly Minardi. He hasn't produced much since then.
08-02-2006, 02:52 PM
#14
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I'm guessing Webber is most likely to end up at Renault, given the Flav link.
And I agree that his career is based mostly on the Australian GP where he got points for Minardi.
Does this help make the driver carousel for next year slightly less confusing? Probably the biggest impact will be Schumi's decision, whenever it ends up coming.
And I agree that his career is based mostly on the Australian GP where he got points for Minardi.
Does this help make the driver carousel for next year slightly less confusing? Probably the biggest impact will be Schumi's decision, whenever it ends up coming.
08-02-2006, 03:46 PM
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He's gotta seat Steve--he'll finish rest of season for BMW and then get the seat next year 
--Weber's Aussie debut is the barometer seemingly w/ nothing in between like you guys said
--Raikkonen to Renault, Weber to McLaren?
--Weber's Aussie debut is the barometer seemingly w/ nothing in between like you guys said
--Raikkonen to Renault, Weber to McLaren?
08-02-2006, 04:18 PM
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perhaps maybe Weber to Renault after all 
Mark Webber has moved into pole position for the vacant Renault seat in 2007.
The Australian, who has not been included in the Williams line-up for next year, is believed to be the favourite to partner Giancarlo Fisichella at Renault next season.
Webber, who had been in protracted negotiations with Williams even after the team’s option had run out on him on July 31, is essentially now a free agent.
However he has been linked with the world champions for some time and is held in high regard by Renault’s engineering guru Pat Symonds since his stint as test driver in 2001.
Webber is even believed to have been offered a drive at Renault before he signed for Williams in 2004.
Indications are that Kimi Raikkonen will opt to race for Ferrari after all, which means both Renault and McLaren must fill their second seats.
With Webber’s management team, which includes Flavio Briatore and GP2 series boss Bruno Michel, unlikely to have negotiated the Australian out of a drive without credible alternative options, it seems that the 29-year-old may have decided to hold out for a better deal.
Webber has impressed in 2006 and is the Williams team’s top scorer this season. He has twice missed out on podiums due to unreliability, in Melbourne and Monaco.
In an interview with ITV-F1.com before the French GP, Webber was asked if he would turn down an offer from Renault, to which he replied: “I would be crazy wouldn’t I?
“They are the strongest team in Formula 1 at the moment along with Ferrari. They are very, very strong.
“But Frank [Williams] has got an option on me, so it’s up to him if he wants me to drive next year,” he added.
“If he doesn’t, then we’ve got to look at what’s best for me in the future.”
Webber had also been linked to McLaren – for which he would also make a strong candidate.
Though the Woking-based team is already brimming with cheap, talented and marketable options including GP2 champion-elect Lewis Hamilton and test driver Gary Paffett.
Renault, meanwhile, could also opt to promote its highly-rated test driver Heikki Kovalainen.
However the Finn remains a risk due to his lack F1 race experience and could instead be placed at Red Bull for a year.
Webber is considered by many to be an A-list driver which the team’s senior management so desperately seeks to replace Alonso.
Indeed the reigning world champion himself recently told ITV Sport’s Louise Goodman that he rates Webber as one of his key rivals in years to come.
“I think he is a good driver as well, fantastic person and quite honest with us, professional and again, one of the drivers that in the next five or six years we will fight with him for championships and respect on the track,” Alonso said.
Mark Webber has moved into pole position for the vacant Renault seat in 2007.
The Australian, who has not been included in the Williams line-up for next year, is believed to be the favourite to partner Giancarlo Fisichella at Renault next season.
Webber, who had been in protracted negotiations with Williams even after the team’s option had run out on him on July 31, is essentially now a free agent.
However he has been linked with the world champions for some time and is held in high regard by Renault’s engineering guru Pat Symonds since his stint as test driver in 2001.
Webber is even believed to have been offered a drive at Renault before he signed for Williams in 2004.
Indications are that Kimi Raikkonen will opt to race for Ferrari after all, which means both Renault and McLaren must fill their second seats.
With Webber’s management team, which includes Flavio Briatore and GP2 series boss Bruno Michel, unlikely to have negotiated the Australian out of a drive without credible alternative options, it seems that the 29-year-old may have decided to hold out for a better deal.
Webber has impressed in 2006 and is the Williams team’s top scorer this season. He has twice missed out on podiums due to unreliability, in Melbourne and Monaco.
In an interview with ITV-F1.com before the French GP, Webber was asked if he would turn down an offer from Renault, to which he replied: “I would be crazy wouldn’t I?
“They are the strongest team in Formula 1 at the moment along with Ferrari. They are very, very strong.
“But Frank [Williams] has got an option on me, so it’s up to him if he wants me to drive next year,” he added.
“If he doesn’t, then we’ve got to look at what’s best for me in the future.”
Webber had also been linked to McLaren – for which he would also make a strong candidate.
Though the Woking-based team is already brimming with cheap, talented and marketable options including GP2 champion-elect Lewis Hamilton and test driver Gary Paffett.
Renault, meanwhile, could also opt to promote its highly-rated test driver Heikki Kovalainen.
However the Finn remains a risk due to his lack F1 race experience and could instead be placed at Red Bull for a year.
Webber is considered by many to be an A-list driver which the team’s senior management so desperately seeks to replace Alonso.
Indeed the reigning world champion himself recently told ITV Sport’s Louise Goodman that he rates Webber as one of his key rivals in years to come.
“I think he is a good driver as well, fantastic person and quite honest with us, professional and again, one of the drivers that in the next five or six years we will fight with him for championships and respect on the track,” Alonso said.
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