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[darwin dali]

So, NR signed an extension of his Williams contract through 2010 with a much better financial package than his current deal.
The question is: is it a good thing to commit with a second rate team for that long at this point in his career?
Maybe his (and his daddy's) plan is to prove his mettle and arrive at a top team as a more complete driver capable of an entire season of top results. He could start a championship campaign in 2011 then...

[texasmr2]

I dont think William's is a second rate team at all. All team's go through their bad time's and you cant keep Sir Frank down for long.

Maybe his (and his daddy's) plan is to prove his mettle and arrive at a top team as a more complete driver capable of an entire season of top results.

This may very well be their plan ? I see the contract extension as a good thing for Nico because it will give him longterm stability and cement his relationship with his mechanic's, heck the whole team for that matter. There has alway's seemed to be to much bouncing around for driver's from team to team which I believe is a bad thing for them in the long run.

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Rosberg signs new two-year Williams deal

By Alan Baldwin Sunday, December 9th 2007, 15:32 GMT

Nico Rosberg has agreed a new two-year contract with Formula One team Williams, ending speculation that he could move to McLaren as a replacement for Fernando Alonso.

A Williams spokesman confirmed that Rosberg's new deal would run up to the end of 2009.

"I'm delighted about having two more years with Williams," the 22-year-old German driver told Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "Williams made me a much improved offer and I decided to accept it."

Last month the Williams team confirmed that Japan's Kazuki Nakajima would race for them alongside Rosberg next season.

"I'm now the number one driver in a very good team," said Rosberg, son of Finland's 1982 champion Keke.

"Of course I could have imagined myself at McLaren (in 2008), just as I could have imagined being at Ferrari. Every young driver wants to be a in a winning car and to win races. I'm no different. I race for success.

"But I feel I have to be patient, like most people. There are only a few exceptions like Lewis (Hamilton) who can have immediate success. Mika Hakkinen had to wait six years for a first win."

McLaren have yet to announce a replacement for double champion Alonso, who left last month and is expected to re-join Renault, as team mate to 22-year-old Briton Hamilton.

Former champions Williams finished fourth in the constructors' championship this year after McLaren were stripped of all their points for a spying controversy.

I think it's a wise move. The expectation will not be as high with him being at a smaller team and he will be able to learn the ropes unhindered but, also, I think Williams are moving in the right direction and will have a solid car next year.

[7UpJordan]

A good decision by Nico, he's the man to take Williams back to the top and it'll all pay off when the produce a winning car for him.

[darwin dali]

I dont think William's is a second rate team at all. All team's go through their bad time's and you cant keep Sir Frank down for long.

They're certainly not a top team at the moment and haven't been in a while. First rate are Ferrari and McLaren, probably BMW Sauber. Anything behind those teams is second rate (well some may be considered third rate or worse).
I'd be surprised if Williams could take on McLaren next year, I would NOT be surprised and it's actually my prediction that BMW Sauber will be better than McLaren.

[darwin dali]

A good decision by Nico, he's the man to take Williams back to the top and it'll all pay off when the produce a winning car for him.

Engine freeze could throw a monkey wrench in this plan - they seem to have married themselves to the Toyota engine for the long term...

[madbrad]

Things could change. In a hypothetical but not far fetched scenario, Toyota could finally give up trying and if they continuue as the works supplier to Williams, Williams could eventually find their way to the front row, I'd say they were going in that direction with BMW. This heralds the rennaisance of the garagiste, however three years is not enough time for all this.

[bud]

DD abit disrespectful to call Williams a second rate F1 team.

look at their CV and compare to your first rate team BMW Sauber

but ofcourse you can just base your rating system on the season gone yet predict changes in the season ahead on god knows what basis
I hope(not a prediction) Williams will finish ahead of BMWSauber to screw with your theories.

[darwin dali]

Williams' last championship was 10 years ago. Since then they didn't really sully themselves with glory, even with BMW power. In fact they got so bad, BMW pulled the plug and got themselves another 2nd rate team. I find it telling that within a year this new team is competitive and seems to have a bright future.

[bud]

well if you want to use titles as a basis then BMW will have to win one before they can be a first rate team eh?
and i predict Williams to only go forward especially when the FIA makes the forthcoming rule changes to make the field a more even pitch. Head and Williams havent forgotten how to win.

[darwin dali]

1983 they won

[McLaren Fan]

Williams aren't a second rate team, but I get the gist of what DD means. The fact is BMW produced the most powerful Formula One engine on the grid by a mile (I think it was the first to get over 19,000 RPM or something) and Williams, whom I think have two wind tunnels, could only produce a car as aerodynamically efficient as a London bus. The fact is BMW fulfilled their side of the bargain pretty quickly and, rightly, got sick waiting on Williams to produce a decent car for the engine. It's good to see the great marque making progress now, but it really should have been happening over five years ago.

[bud]

1983 they won

i wasnt aware BMW-Sauber were a constructor in the 1983 season

[deMuRe]

Yes it's hard to see Williams coming back to the front like the old days. I've always enjoyed seeing Williams win, I like their modus operandi of being a no nonsense engineering outfit that's been able to win on half the budget of the big boys.

I'm afraid those days are over however.

The big manufacturers are poaching lead personell from other teams and discovering F1's secrets. They have the money to fix problems quickly and each car becomes a product of the law of diminishing returns.

There are a few exceptions to this however, the Japanese teams need to stop running their F1 teams with Japanese corporate values were nobody is allowed to stick their head up and be recognized. Honda has decided to play ball, now Toyota needs to follow suit.

[8-ball]

what is Nico playing at! I don't think that Williams will ever get back near the front and espeacilly not before 2010. Good luck to him he is going to need it!