Williams F1 Team 2013

[FrukostScones]

The way I see things with Bottas jumping straight to F1 is like in the tattoo industry in a way.

No matter how good at drawings you are, to be recognized as a tattoo artist by others you have to be an apprentice, you have to learn from an experienced guy in a tattoo shop until he consideres that you are ready to go on your own to make proper tattoos. You have to go through s**t like everyone else, and if you don't and you start making tattoos by your own because you think that just because you draw good and you make decent tattoos without knowing the actual techniques and tricks, you are considered a scratcher and in the tattoo world, the fact that you are a scratcher goes out pretty fast and it's not the reputation you want to have.

To me, Bottas can be the best on the grid, he can become a WDC, I wish him all the best but I will still consider him a scratcher, because he didin't go through s**t like everyone else - 2 years in F3, 1 year in GP3 and that's it. He forced his way in Formula One because he has the money and the backing.

FP1 is not a tattoo shop? Pitwall is not an experienced guy?

[FW17]

A good number 3

Not a threat

Dependable test driver

Sort of like antonio pizzonia, petro de la rosa

Who do we have now?

Who are we talking about again?

Expecting the current line up to last a few years

No more development driver

Who will williams sign up for test/reserve driver?

[stefan_]

FP1 is not a tattoo shop? Pitwall is not an experienced guy?

Of course it is, but I think it would have been better do to GP2 or FR 3,5 rather than not to race for one year and do just one test session / race weekend. We can see what happened to Maldonado and Grosjean who were GP2 champions and still made dumb moves when they were actually racing in Formula 1 and that is why I think every driver nowdays should have a path or a minimum number of races completed in this support series in order to get into Formula 1 as a main driver.

[raymondu999]

As I see it - Williams over the years have always bred their own drivers, almost. Rosberg, Hulkenberg were all "in-house" drivers who they brought up to F1. Not quite their own "driver program" - but not too far off either.

[Sevach]

Of course it is, but I think it would have been better do to GP2 or FR 3,5 rather than not to race for one year and do just one test session / race weekend. We can see what happened to Maldonado and Grosjean who were GP2 champions and still made dumb moves when they were actually racing in Formula 1 and that is why I think every driver nowdays should have a path or a minimum number of races completed in this support series in order to get into Formula 1 as a main driver.

Apparently Williams management believes that driving the car on fridays prepares him better for F1 than a GP2 season.
Maybe this way they can see how fast he is in comparison to their regular drivers or something...

Bottas was a Williams driver before 2012, they could've easily found him a good place in GP2 if they thought it was the best decision.

[raymondu999]

It's quite an interesting choice, given their last two proteges have been fielded (and won on their debut seasons of) GP2

[Sevach]

In Rosberg's case every driver on the grid was a rookie
Also, back in 2005 testing wasn't restricted, so Rosberg had plenty of KMs in the car.

Still, we will never know fully what made them take this unique route with Bottas.

[KATO]

FP1 is not a tattoo shop? Pitwall is not an experienced guy?

Of course it is, but I think it would have been better do to GP2 or FR 3,5 rather than not to race for one year and do just one test session / race weekend. We can see what happened to Maldonado and Grosjean who were GP2 champions and still made dumb moves when they were actually racing in Formula 1 and that is why I think every driver nowdays should have a path or a minimum number of races completed in this support series in order to get into Formula 1 as a main driver.

I think they gave him enough of Sennas Friday mornings to be competent enough to drive the car at a decent speed... Now let's see how good he is at learning and work ethic to compensate for his lack of experience and youth to overcome and become and amazing driver.. In a lessor form its alot like Lewis in his first F1 season only he was properly readied for it........ Is it enough those Friday practices...

[Nando]

Pastor and Bottas are getting to know each other, pretty funny with the last game

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkutKpfm ... MA&index=2[/youtube]

[AlpineF1]

Judging by Grosjeans first few races i expect Valteris will be much the same

[Sevach]

Grosjean actually was racing in GP2 last season.
Grosjean's mistakes can't be put on the account of rustiness, and they continued late in the season.

[zoro_f1]

Chief operations engineer Mark Gillan leaves Williams F1 team

click [here] for more.

[gato azul]

wow, that didn't last long
I think, that will be a blow/setback for Williams, at least in the short term

[Sevach]

Not good, i was curious to see what this tech team could accomplish now, with some acclimation time.
The FW34 speed was impressive for the first full year of an entirely new tech team from top to bottom, plus a new engine.

[FW17]

Williams departures: Mark Gillan, Tom McCullough (to Sauber) and Mark Barnett (to Force India).