Looks like it's got some good 1-lap pace, especially in Maldonado's hands. Remains to be seen whether they can take that into the race - they were always somewhat average on the longer runs in testing as I recall.
But last season they were hopeless in Quali and race, at least this time they pulled in a very respectable 8th (and 14th) in quali right at the very start of the season, something they could only have dreamed of last year when it's only by the thinnest of thin margins that in an entire season they managed to beat Lotus (now Caterham) HRT (out of Australia race) and Virgin (now Marussia).
Oh they've definitely improved, given the fear was that they might be overtaken by Caterham. They just need to make that count in the race; they had tyre degradation problems in testing so it's going to be fascinating to watch the midfield battle tomorrow I reckon.
Maldonado is faster than people give him credit for, and I suspect the switch to Renault engines has helped them out a bit, Senna needs to pull his finger out a bit.
Maldo is indeed fast: he took last years dog of a car into Q3 several times last season but was either unlucky, sloppy or occasionally downright dangerous during the race. I like him and I'm hoping he can get some points tomorrow; Bruno too but he'll have to "pull his finger out", as you say.
I'm just prejudiced against pay drivers, and Williams have two. If you're not good enough to have teams knocking down your front door waving ready-signed contracts and blank cheques at you then you've no business seeking a race seat. If the only thing that demonstrates your fitness to a team for their race seat is that you carry a very large brown envelope full of readies for them, then you should consider another career path or motor racing formula. (I'm not entering into a debate about the state of teams' finances and the need for those large brown envelopes just to survive.) That said some pay drivers have the time to develop and become proper drivers - let's face it they're bound to get enough time to develop, they're unsackable - but for some I get the feeling that their entire season's work is done as soon as they hand over the dosh before Race 1 and they only have to phone in a race performance. I may be ranting a bit, but to counter that I am genuinely pleased when a pay driver does well and even mentally promote them from "pay-driver" to "driver", although I still regret that they've done it at the expense of another better, but skint, driver. Still, opinions are like a-holes - everyone's got one but you don't necessarily want someone else's in your face.
Maldonado is a driver with sponsorship; so was Vettel when he started. Hell, I'd be surprised if you could find anyone who wasn't. Given that Maldonado also won the GP2 championship, which I think a lot of people overlook (along with the fact that he was denied a big points finish at Monaco due to the rash actions of one L. Hamilton), a lot of people are unfair on him. Senna is a talented driver too. He came 2nd in GP2 a few years back, 3rd in British Formula Three before that (which I believe was also Button's justification for his initial seat at Williams!) The other thing about Williams is they didn't really have any other options. Barichello is sadly a bit beyond the pale these days and Sutil ran himself out of the running. A young, fresh driver pairing to boost the Williams team back towards their former glories. Sensible options in my book. Now HRT on the other hand...
No one likes Maldo, I know, but for me the only real pay driver in F1 today is Karthikeyan. Nowadays, most drivers are there but for the grace of sponsorship one way or another, it's just a sign of the times. Edit: Sorry tom-tom, posts crossed. I couldn't agree more.
Among pay-drivers it's true that he's probably the least able. I could not find him ever having done anything in his previous stint in F1 five or so years ago when his achievements amounted to him being carried (putting it charitably). He is also IMO unlikely to better that in this career, leaving me with the curious feeling that he was hired as a token Indian to race in the inaugural Indian GP and that's a political decision far above the driver or the team, and it ill-behoved the team and Karthikeyan himself to go along with something so shabby, but that does depend on my suspicion being borne out. (Karun Chandhok was equally available but I don't think he had the same financial backing or connections.) Even so, even if he blocked Alonso, he still came in at 109% or so of the pole time, though even if he never betters that all season HRT have to keep him because without his dowry they fold, and that's too embarrassing for F1 to let happen. It stinks, like a 3-month dead budgie.
Not sure where to post this. Just a snippet of news not worth a thread so I thought these car threads would do for general team news, too. Anyway, Adam Parr's got until the end of the week to get out or get out.
Any reason for this? hasn't Frank just stepped down, and the team are doing well? wheres the need for more change.
I don't know much about Adam Parr but whenever I've seen him being interviewed he seems a very gentle, likeable chap. Perhaps Williams wants someone a tad more assertive? After all, they haven't won anything yet.
This is all very sudden, especially as things are finally looking up for them. If the line about "seeking a better balance in his life" is sincere, then it could be something very personal.
