Title Edit: "The Williams Driver Dilemma: Your Take" If you were in Frank Williams and Adam Parr's shoes, what driver would you sign for next season, or would you retain the evergreen Rubens Barrichello?
Well, I would get rid of Barrichello, Maldonado (in my opinion) is doing better than him, and hes giving more money. Quite clearly too Barrichello isnt really making the car improve with his experience. Dont be surprised if he's gone next year, maybe a move to Virgin? Out of the options, I would go for Heidfeld. Sutil would be a good choice but that Williams is too bad for him.
Surely there must be a few of the bigger teams looking at Paul Diresta, he has been good all season in a poor car, defiantly got potential.
I think Barrichello needs to think about hanging up the helmet.... As for replacements. Tough one. But I'd say not to Kimi. He'd be hard pushed to pick up the likes of Di Resta. So I'd say snag Massa as your experience... Maybe give Grosjean a shot in the second?
Well if I was Adam Parr I'd be handing in my notice of resignation. A major failure is Parr since he took over which has culminated in the fairly rapid decline of Williams the past couple of years. I'd have a punt on Raikonnen again. For sure he's not raced an f1 car for two years now which is a very long time but it's worth a shot. But it is a risk - F1 stops for nobody and two years out of the sport is a very long time. We even talk of Robert Kubica and how we fear he may not get up to speed considering his layoff. But where Williams are at the moment it's a risk well worth taking.
I was thinking that a Raikkonen signing would be good, until John Watson mentioned in practice on friday that Kimi has been out for a while, it'll take ages for him to get back up to speed. Now i think Bruno Senna would be the perfect signing for Williams. He has the makings of a top driver.
Senna's done an ok job since he went to Renault but he's not really caught my eye. I think Williams needs much better drivers to progress.
Id go fro Raikkonen, but thats a pretty good problem for him to have, some good drivers on that list. 1st Choice. Raikkonen (not a fan but clearly the fastest option, still doubt he would be motivated to drive for williams) 2nd Choice. Sutil (Quick and has lost the recklessness of his early years, reckon he'll stay at FI though) 3rd Choice. Senna (brings in sponsorship and if the first 3 races of his renault career are anything to go by he's not slow) 4th Choice. Barrichello. (pretty close call with him or Senna and they are more realistic options i think, youth or experience) I voted Senna as the best realistic option.
Sadly for Bruno he's joined Renault in a very bad patch for the team. His comparisons to Vitaly are very good given his lack of testing.
Kimi has half arsed everything he has done since leaving F1. Frank would be mad to put him at the wheel in my opinion. His time has come and gone I'm afraid.
renault are just awful now from having the 3rd best car in the first two races to seeing one of their cars being beaten by team lotus oh the irony
If Kimi is going cheap, then it would be a good move since Pastor is the fast cash cow for Williams. If he wants Ferrari wages than Sutil would be the best option followed by Bruno, though I think experience is more important than talent for that seat since they are rebuilding.
I imagine it will improve at suzuka. Far more high speed corners there, they should suit the Renault.
Has to be Raikkonen. He's clearly a different calibre of driver to the others mentioned. He's a very natural talent and in the prime of his career age-wise, so it's completely different to Schumacher. Plus, he'd raise the profile of the team no end. He'd make them more attractive to sponsors, but is also capable of freak results which can bring prize increased prize money and yet more sponsorship.
I would have said Senna seeing his results lately, but despite Renaults current lack of form I think they are much closer to the top than williams are and will be next year. Therefore I rather see Senna stay at Renault and see Raikkonen join. I think Kimi will have a hard time catching up but we need more aggressive drivers like him in the sport and spread out the current bashing and criticism that is to 99% is concentrated towards Hamilton, MSC and webber. The more aggressive drivers like that we get the more accepted it will be to race wheel to wheel. I hate what it have come to giving penalties for the slightest mistake people do. Ok this might sound like I think bad of Raikkonen? No I think he is awesome, just as i think of MSC, HAM, WEB, VET, ALO, KOB, for their likewise very aggressive racingstyle. Now lets also try and get Montoya back and hope that Kubica recover 100%!
I have voted for Barrichello, although some of the variables listed are interesting. There can be no doubt that Barrichello is no spring chicken but he still bubbles with enthusiasm and a highly commendable work ethic. However, in view of his age, his career is surely approaching its finalé. For this reason, if I were Patrick Head and wanting to see my team's resurgence, I'd be beginning to look for a new, quick, young driver with enormous ambition. I've expressed doubts in the past about Senna, but he has recently done exactly what I'd hoped in tidying up his game, to add to his undoubted speed. The other alternative I'd take a look at if he were to become available would be Buemi, who I rate more highly than Alguesuari. I would not be interested in Raikkonen unless I intended to sell the team with him still in the seat - probably at the end of 2012 or 2013.
