munudeges wrote: ↑22 Feb 2019, 01:55
paulo_f1 wrote: ↑21 Feb 2019, 19:53
You can, in that it's a journalists opinion! He, and especially you, don't know what has been said internally or what the process of internal/analysis and action/redress is or will be. The company has said they're investigating it, will be dealing with it and it's not a matter for airing in public at this point.
Ironically, you've perfectly exemplified in one post, why Williams are in the position they are in - utter denial. That inconvenient bottom line of where they are isn't going to be waved away with words. They have sponsors to answer to, and they expect answers, in public alongside their names and logos they have embarrassed.
You have to remember that Paddy Lowe is a director and shareholder at Williams, there is a legal duty of responsibility with Frank, Claire and Paddy....
The stopwatch doesn't care about the fallout from their poorly thought through and badly researched recruitment choices.
As an aside, I find it hilarious that elements of the media and public are baying for blood and encouraging the Williams team to behave in the same comedy Machiavellian way that Ferrari has received untold criticism over the years for by the same journalists and public.
You know what I find more hilarious? Their current championship position. Unless they do something about this now they likely won't survive much beyond this season. Goodness, they had to do something about last season now. There is simply no comparison whatsoever between Ferrari and the utterly desperate situation Williams are in and seem to be so blasé about. The delusion is if they keep coming out with the fighting talk and tweak one or two things they'll be back to winning ways.
Except this is all utter conjecture on your part and simply your vitriolic opinion of the team and how they should behave.
A few points for the hard of thinking: -
1. The sponsors aren't going to want a witch hunt in public, or potential recriminations and legal action between directors, any more than the team management do.
2. The stop watch may not care, but the investors and regulatory authorities do. This means that for a business in Williams position the directors have a statutory legal duty of care to behave in certain way.
3. Of course there is a comparison between Ferrari and Williams, I'm comparing style of management. The Italian Machiavellian way of firing someone prominent, regardless of whether it's their fault or not and having a cull of people without any analysis of the situation has rightly been derided by the UK Motorsport press. It's not something Williams should get into, even if that's what you want them to do.
4. Williams have signed a multi year title deal with Rokit and several other sponsors, they aren't going to go bust because their car is slow this year (not that we know how it will really perform yet).
5. It takes many years to change the course of a teams technical development, especially if you get rid of people, you need to put other good people in place and restructure. Senior personnel take a long time to recruit and often have a period of gardening leave too. The culture and working practices may also need to change. Williams pulled apart and reorganised last year getting rid of several senior people, it was hardly going to improve the situation overnight.
6. You have no idea who is on the recruitment agenda, what their internal investigations are showing, whether Paddy is on the way out etc. The only thing you really know is that they haven't told you and the press what their plans are, there are good reasons for this and they are outlined above.
The best companies plan, analyse and are very strategic, F1 is a business, not a hobby or a sport, short term knee jerk reactions aren't going to help. Luckily they don't have to listen to the opinions and drivel spouted by the keyboard warriors...
