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[darwin dali]

Rumors have it that Toyota is going to try for at the most a couple seasons. If nothing materializes, they might want to buy out Williams, close Cologne, replace staff with Williams experts and move the whole operation to England. This would result in an open spot on the roster for a new team...

I think this scenario is not too far fetched. What say you?

[johnbull]

I've reckoned on this since the day Frank signed the engine deal with Toyota.

He will have walked out of the office rubbing his hands together. "Half the job done!"

Frank and Patrick aren't getting any younger. A few Toyota yen won't go amis.

[7UpJordan]

I hope they don't buy out Williams, we don't want that legendary name to dissapear from F1. If anything I think Toyota could buy shares of Williams and focus solely on providing them their engines like Mercedes are doing with McLaren.

[darwin dali]

I foresee something like BMW-Sauber as a model. The name is still around, albeit hyphenated.

[madbrad]

Sir Frank wanted more investment from BMW. I figured he was willing to retire. I would like to see Toyota vacate their space and be Williams works(aka free) engine supplier. Williams would win WCs this way. Perhaps a gradual buyout and a name change to Toyota would be in the far future, but it would be a better time for it than now.

[deMuRe]

I've reckoned on this since the day Frank signed the engine deal with Toyota.

He will have walked out of the office rubbing his hands together. "Half the job done!"

Frank and Patrick aren't getting any younger. A few Toyota yen won't go amis.

When I was in the UK gimping out on every available news snippet on F1 I remember reading something that confused me. BMW wanted to buy williams out but Frank and Patrick refused, so they purchased sauber. A week later in F1 Racing there was an article saying "Williams is up for sale", Frank and Patrick wanted to sell out.

Why didn't they sell to BMW? Perhaps it wasn't at the right price? Perhaps the war with words that Williams and BMW had just had in the press soured the relationship?

I'm sure Toyota have seen the advantages of buying an existing F1 team and injecting fresh money, BMW a perfect example.

It will be a great shame to lose the Williams name from F1, just like it was all the other great names that sold out to the big boys...

I agree their best option is to get th team ready to sell out to Toyota. The day of the privateer is soon coming to an end.

[bud]

yeah i was under the impression that Frank Williams wouldnt sell, even a share to BMW like McLaren did to Mercedes (whom now is the biggest share holder of the team) so while i think this would be the best option for Toyota i dont think Frank will go for it, although he might actually have to bite the bullet and do whats best to keep his team in the sport and sell.