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Michael admits to frustration at Williams
Concerned rivals will catch up, pushing on with KERS
30/04/09 11:23
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 2337.shtml
Williams certainly has a very good package with the Toyota-powered FW31, but after four races in which Nico Rosberg has qualified fifth, fourth, seventh and ninth, the German racer has just a sixth and eighth position to his credit so far and is 11th in the championship standings with 3.5 points.
Team-mate Kazuki Nakajima has not made an impact for the team in his second season, is 19th in the standings and has yet to score.
"We haven’t delivered in terms of points and that’s been very frustrating," admitted Technical Director Sam Michael. "Our rivals are catching up quickly and it will be difficult to maintain a development edge over them during the year, but that’s our job and we’ll keep pushing."
While Michael is happy with the driver pairing saying that the duo are ‘doing the best job that they can,’ he points out that the team itself has made a number of small mistakes and this has cost points.
“We’ve made a few mistakes,” the Australian explained. “In Australia we had a problem with a wheel nut, which cost Nico about ten seconds, in Malaysia we didn’t switch to intermediate tyres at the right time and in China we made the wrong strategic call with Nico when we brought him in during the first Safety Car period. ”
Williams of course was one of the ‘diffuser three’ gang along with Brawn GP and Toyota. Michael never had any doubts that the court of appeal would rule any other way other than in favour of the three teams. “Technically, I had no doubt as to which way the decision would go, but you can never be 100 percent sure when things go to court. As it was, the FIA deemed our diffuser legal.”
While the diffuser is one area for ongoing development, the Grove-based squad has yet to run its flywheel based Kinetic Energy Recovery System in race conditions, but Michael sees this as one area where the team will be able to make gains.
“As the rate of development slows, KERS will take on a greater significance. We’re working flat out to get it onto the FW31 as soon as possible, but I can’t say when that will be at this stage. As soon as it’s ready, it’ll be on the car,” he concluded.
Williams seem to have pretty strong pace, they've made a few serious tactical errors and seem to be butchered by KERS cars, where as Toyota and Brawn are more immune.
It's a bit dissapointing to see where Williams are given the potential they showed in the first couple of races. I'd like to see how their flywheel runs, sounds like a unique approach to the KERS issue.
Btw, first post here. So hi!
Williams question ‘inconsistent’ Rosberg
May 11, 2009 by James Allen
I’m intrigued by the comments coming out of Williams over the last 24 hours, regarding Nico Rosberg.
First at the top of yesterday’s press release after the race they said, “Inconsistency compromised a strong strategy and left Nico in P8 and with one point at race end.”
Then lower down, Patrick Head says, “Nico’s pace in the first stint was initially good, but we then struggled to maintain consistency, so we will have to investigate that.”
Today comes a de-brief document from the team, in which technical director Sam Michael says “Nico’s lap times were somewhat inconsistent, yes, and we are now looking carefully through all of the data and bodywork parts to determine what caused that.”
Williams’ frustration is evident; they lie 8th in the constructors championship with a scant 4.5 points, despite being one of the teams who started the season with the advantage of a double diffuser.
Sam Michael goes on to say, “Even if we think we have a faster car than how we currently stand in that table, the Constructors’ order is what the overall performance of our team is measured by. “
This is all finessed with layers of pr gloss, but reading between the lines I think Williams are a bit fed up with Rosberg’s performance this year.
In his defence, as far as the inconsistency is concerned, I heard last night before I left the track that Rosberg had suffered some problem with the floor of the car, which may have affected him in certain corners around the Barcelona track and resulted in him struggling to turn in consistent times. I look forward to the findings of their current investigations into the car.
But the fact is that Rosberg hasn’t really been pulling up trees this year. I’ve heard it suggested that if someone like Fernando Alonso were in that car he would have scored podiums with it, but who’s to know?
Let’s take a look though at Nico’s race and see what the team is referring to.
Nico starts the race on Sunday from 9th on the grid, but took advantage of the chaos at the first corner to move up to 7th. His lap times do not come down like the other front running drivers, a lap of 1m 24.2 is followed by a 1m25.0. A few laps later a 1m 24.1 is followed by a 1m 25.9. No traffic is involved.
He pits on lap 25 and the second stint is more consistent, working his way down through the 1m24s to the 1m23s. There is often three or four tenths of disparity between laps, however. He has lost time and later in the race Nick Heidfeld in the BMW gets in front of him, at the second pit stops.
The BMW is at least 2/10ths slower than the Williams, so this is an irritant. In Bahrain it will have irritated the team that Rosberg, with a significant package of upgrades, was only two tenths faster than Nakajima in qualifying. The impression is of a driver who is struggling to make things happen in his fourth season in F1.
I remember a few years ago, when one of the drivers wasn’t pulling his weight to the extent Patrick expected he said, “We are deep in Boutsen territory,” referring to Thierry Boutsen, who had plenty of days when he wouldn’t be able to perform.
I’m not saying for a second that they are in ‘Boutsen territory’ now, but Rosberg is certainly under scrutiny there. That message is coming through loud and clear.
Reassuring to know there is someone else out there who shares my reservations about NR!
Reassuring to know there is someone else out there who shares my reservations about NR!
I had some slight suspicions about him after his "visor problems" excuse in China, but now it's all clear to me.
It's nothing wrong with the car either because Sam Michael was reportedly quite "pleased" with the upgrades to both cars in Spain.
And I thought Boutsen in his two years at Williams drove a lot better than Nico currently is doing so maybe Patrick should bring him back and see if he can do better.
Very interesting article from James Allen, apparently he believes Nico is the problem...Williams question ‘inconsistent’ Rosberg
May 11, 2009 by James Allen
I’m intrigued by the comments coming out of Williams over the last 24 hours, regarding Nico Rosberg.
First at the top of yesterday’s press release after the race they said, “Inconsistency compromised a strong strategy and left Nico in P8 and with one point at race end.”
Then lower down, Patrick Head says, “Nico’s pace in the first stint was initially good, but we then struggled to maintain consistency, so we will have to investigate that.”
Today comes a de-brief document from the team, in which technical director Sam Michael says “Nico’s lap times were somewhat inconsistent, yes, and we are now looking carefully through all of the data and bodywork parts to determine what caused that.”
Williams’ frustration is evident; they lie 8th in the constructors championship with a scant 4.5 points, despite being one of the teams who started the season with the advantage of a double diffuser.
Sam Michael goes on to say, “Even if we think we have a faster car than how we currently stand in that table, the Constructors’ order is what the overall performance of our team is measured by. “
This is all finessed with layers of pr gloss, but reading between the lines I think Williams are a bit fed up with Rosberg’s performance this year.
In his defence, as far as the inconsistency is concerned, I heard last night before I left the track that Rosberg had suffered some problem with the floor of the car, which may have affected him in certain corners around the Barcelona track and resulted in him struggling to turn in consistent times. I look forward to the findings of their current investigations into the car.
But the fact is that Rosberg hasn’t really been pulling up trees this year. I’ve heard it suggested that if someone like Fernando Alonso were in that car he would have scored podiums with it, but who’s to know?
Let’s take a look though at Nico’s race and see what the team is referring to.
Nico starts the race on Sunday from 9th on the grid, but took advantage of the chaos at the first corner to move up to 7th. His lap times do not come down like the other front running drivers, a lap of 1m 24.2 is followed by a 1m25.0. A few laps later a 1m 24.1 is followed by a 1m 25.9. No traffic is involved.
He pits on lap 25 and the second stint is more consistent, working his way down through the 1m24s to the 1m23s. There is often three or four tenths of disparity between laps, however. He has lost time and later in the race Nick Heidfeld in the BMW gets in front of him, at the second pit stops.
The BMW is at least 2/10ths slower than the Williams, so this is an irritant. In Bahrain it will have irritated the team that Rosberg, with a significant package of upgrades, was only two tenths faster than Nakajima in qualifying. The impression is of a driver who is struggling to make things happen in his fourth season in F1.
I remember a few years ago, when one of the drivers wasn’t pulling his weight to the extent Patrick expected he said, “We are deep in Boutsen territory,” referring to Thierry Boutsen, who had plenty of days when he wouldn’t be able to perform.
I’m not saying for a second that they are in ‘Boutsen territory’ now, but Rosberg is certainly under scrutiny there. That message is coming through loud and clear.
Well I wouldn't be surprised if it is Nico. He has come out with some "strange" excuses the past few races, particularly his "visor problems" in China.
I think he begrudgingly decided to stay another year with Williams after the shambolic 2008 season, he will be eyeing up a McLaren seat alongside Lewis and in place of Kovalainen.
Williams should give Hulkenberg a "sneaky" test somehow to see if he can do what Nico doesn't seem to want to do.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. 
Very interesting article from James Allen, apparently he believes Nico is the problem...Williams question ‘inconsistent’ Rosberg
May 11, 2009 by James Allen
I’m intrigued by the comments coming out of Williams over the last 24 hours, regarding Nico Rosberg.
First at the top of yesterday’s press release after the race they said, “Inconsistency compromised a strong strategy and left Nico in P8 and with one point at race end.”
Then lower down, Patrick Head says, “Nico’s pace in the first stint was initially good, but we then struggled to maintain consistency, so we will have to investigate that.”
Today comes a de-brief document from the team, in which technical director Sam Michael says “Nico’s lap times were somewhat inconsistent, yes, and we are now looking carefully through all of the data and bodywork parts to determine what caused that.”
Williams’ frustration is evident; they lie 8th in the constructors championship with a scant 4.5 points, despite being one of the teams who started the season with the advantage of a double diffuser.
Sam Michael goes on to say, “Even if we think we have a faster car than how we currently stand in that table, the Constructors’ order is what the overall performance of our team is measured by. “
This is all finessed with layers of pr gloss, but reading between the lines I think Williams are a bit fed up with Rosberg’s performance this year.
In his defence, as far as the inconsistency is concerned, I heard last night before I left the track that Rosberg had suffered some problem with the floor of the car, which may have affected him in certain corners around the Barcelona track and resulted in him struggling to turn in consistent times. I look forward to the findings of their current investigations into the car.
But the fact is that Rosberg hasn’t really been pulling up trees this year. I’ve heard it suggested that if someone like Fernando Alonso were in that car he would have scored podiums with it, but who’s to know?
Let’s take a look though at Nico’s race and see what the team is referring to.
Nico starts the race on Sunday from 9th on the grid, but took advantage of the chaos at the first corner to move up to 7th. His lap times do not come down like the other front running drivers, a lap of 1m 24.2 is followed by a 1m25.0. A few laps later a 1m 24.1 is followed by a 1m 25.9. No traffic is involved.
He pits on lap 25 and the second stint is more consistent, working his way down through the 1m24s to the 1m23s. There is often three or four tenths of disparity between laps, however. He has lost time and later in the race Nick Heidfeld in the BMW gets in front of him, at the second pit stops.
The BMW is at least 2/10ths slower than the Williams, so this is an irritant. In Bahrain it will have irritated the team that Rosberg, with a significant package of upgrades, was only two tenths faster than Nakajima in qualifying. The impression is of a driver who is struggling to make things happen in his fourth season in F1.
I remember a few years ago, when one of the drivers wasn’t pulling his weight to the extent Patrick expected he said, “We are deep in Boutsen territory,” referring to Thierry Boutsen, who had plenty of days when he wouldn’t be able to perform.
I’m not saying for a second that they are in ‘Boutsen territory’ now, but Rosberg is certainly under scrutiny there. That message is coming through loud and clear.
Well I wouldn't be surprised if it is Nico. He has come out with some "strange" excuses the past few races, particularly his "visor problems" in China.
I think he begrudgingly decided to stay another year with Williams after the shambolic 2008 season, he will be eyeing up a McLaren seat alongside Lewis and in place of Kovalainen.
Williams should give Hulkenberg a "sneaky" test somehow to see if he can do what Nico doesn't seem to want to do.
'Sneaky' test, eh?
That's a problem these days - how can you test a new driver with the current test ban? Straight-line testing on an airfield is not the same neither is a race simulator...
However, wasn't there a provision about testing new drivers?
Reassuring to know there is someone else out there who shares my reservations about NR!
I had some slight suspicions about him after his "visor problems" excuse in China, but now it's all clear to me.
It's nothing wrong with the car either because Sam Michael was reportedly quite "pleased" with the upgrades to both cars in Spain.
And I thought Boutsen in his two years at Williams drove a lot better than Nico currently is doing so maybe Patrick should bring him back and see if he can do better.
He won a race each year in a car that most definitely wasn't the best...
Reassuring to know there is someone else out there who shares my reservations about NR!
I had some slight suspicions about him after his "visor problems" excuse in China, but now it's all clear to me.
It's nothing wrong with the car either because Sam Michael was reportedly quite "pleased" with the upgrades to both cars in Spain.
And I thought Boutsen in his two years at Williams drove a lot better than Nico currently is doing so maybe Patrick should bring him back and see if he can do better.
He won a race each year in a car that most definitely wasn't the best...
He was nothing like Senna, Prost and Mansell, but he was good in the wet, used short-shifting to good effect and his drive at Hungary in 1990 was sublime, the kind of drive you see Raikkonen put in when he's not eating ice cream.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIOcMuBCrk4
- By darwin daliYeah, not very active here, unfortunately. Is it […]
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