<< Return to the news list

Williams defends 2018 line-up amid 'pay-driver' comments

Published on 16 Feb 2018 12:02
10
By: Fergal Walsh

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams has hit back at criticism that the team has received in recent weeks following the announcement of its 2018 line-up. Williams says that the decision was not decided by money.

Lance Stroll will compete in his second year in F1 this year, and comes with a backing from father Lawrence, a Canadian investor. Stroll will be partnered with SMP Racing-backed Sergey Sirotkin, who got the seat over Robert Kubica following a test in Abu Dhabi.

Fans reacted to the news negatively and lashed out at Williams for not opting to choose Kubica. However, Williams says that they would only insert talented drivers into their cars, with money not being the sole deal-maker.

"We would only put talented drivers in our car,” Williams said. "This is a dangerous business and we’re not going to put someone in a car just because they come with money. Our decision-making process is so much more complex than just deciding to put a driver into the race seat because they have some cash.

"Yes, we are an independent team and yes, sponsorship is really difficult to come by these days. So clearly if a driver has some financial backing then that is an added bonus, but it’s not the foundation for a decision-making process at Williams."

But Williams says that drivers who come with sponsorship are nothing new: "It is nothing new in Formula 1 that drivers come with money, and thank goodness they do. "[Spanish bank] Santander has followed Fernando Alonso to every team he has been to.

"You could suggest he is a pay driver, I would not do such a thing. The vocabulary used around pay drivers is wrong, it’s inappropriate and it’s unnecessary. it puts a negativity around a driver that we just should not be doing in this sport anymore."

Numnum

Posts: 4,863

Only talented drivers she said....
What the frig is Stroll doing in a F1 car then?
Same goes for Kubica. Excellent driver and talent. Before his accident.
If Sirotkin is talented enough to drive F1 at the max remains to be seen.

Luckely I can’t do any better in a F1 car.

1
Feb 16 2018 - 13:55

F1 News Fernando Alonso Sergey Sirotkin Lance Stroll Robert Kubica Williams

Replies (10)

Numnum

Posts: 4,863
Only talented drivers she said....
What the frig is Stroll doing in a F1 car then?
Same goes for Kubica. Excellent driver and talent. Before his accident.
If Sirotkin is talented enough to drive F1 at the max remains to be seen.

Luckely I can’t do any better in a F1 car.
- + 1
- Feb 16 2018 - 13:55
ENDR

Posts: 43
Oh come on, enough with that Santander-Alonso crap. I'm pretty sure all those top teams, that have hired him over the years, didn't do it BECAUSE MONEY. It's because wherever he goes, he generates results (let's face it, no driver could've pulled more performance out of the McLarens over the last 3 years). Santander isn't exactly buying a seat for someone, whose performance has been mediocre at best or hasn't even made his debut yet.
- + 1
- Feb 16 2018 - 14:54
juju_hound

Posts: 180
I think Santander ended uo their F1 story at the end of 2017. So no Santander in F1 for next year. After Mr Botins death his family wasn't interested and this year they are going to support UEAF Champions League
- + 0
- Feb 16 2018 - 15:35
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
PAY DRIVERS. Both of them. They can shed the pejorative if they perform well. Also, the comparison to Fernando Alonso? Laughable.
- + 1
- Feb 16 2018 - 16:03
Major Tom

Posts: 152
If it wasn't driven by money that's kinda worrying. How did they end up with such a weak (or at least unproven) driver pairing if money wasn't a consideration?
- + 0
- Feb 16 2018 - 16:33
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  Absolutely. They really need to stop talking about or avoid the questions. This is, at the very least on paper, the weakest driver pairing in Williams history
  + 0
  
  Feb 16 2018 - 18:02
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Lets wait and see if they really are that bad.
- + 0
- Feb 16 2018 - 21:42
Norbert

Posts: 108
Well, Sergey Sirotkin does know his way around a race car and he’s not unqualified for the job. Since I’m also a Claire Williams fan, I’m over the decision now and excited for the 2018 season. Is it just me? Or is Sergey a bit like Chekov in the first new Star Trek movie? I will be comparing him head to head with Brendon Hartley. I will expect him to beat Hartley consistently. Williams should be a much faster car. If SIR scores a 5th place in any of first 4 races, I will be a new Sergey Sirotkin fan right away. If he tanks, and Kubica gets to take the car (with his own seat and set-up), I will root for Kubica because he makes my heart feel good. He has paid his dues, and proven he has talent which is next level stuff. The front is going to be good. The back is going to be good. This whole season is shaping up to be the best in a decade.
- + 0
- Feb 17 2018 - 12:34
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  It should be... But the key here is should. Mind, I'd be very surprised if TR were to be on Williams' level this year. Williams has a Mercedes engine and isnt the little sister of Red Bull.
  + 0
  
  Feb 17 2018 - 13:53
- Barron
  
  Posts: 625
  Norbert, that’s a great post man, thanks..?
  + 0
  
  Feb 18 2018 - 17:42