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Webber "not happy" with Williams drivers

Published on 24 Mar 2018 12:26
13
By: Fergal Walsh

Former Grand Prix driver Mark Webber has hit out at Williams and its driver line-up. The Grove-based squad faced a wall of criticism following the announcement of its 2018 driver line-up over the winter, as it placed Sergey Sirotkin beside Lance Stroll.

The line-up is the least experienced on the F1 grid this year, with Robert Kubica holding the role of test and development driver. Webber, who raced for Williams in the 2005 and 2006 F1 seasons, has lashed out at his former team claiming it needs the right mix of drivers.

"Not happy," he replied when asked how he feels about the pairing "There's not a person out there that doesn't want to see Williams do well, and to do that they need a marriage between experience and the future. You need chemistry between the drivers. F1 isn't a finishing school, it needs drivers who can deliver from the off."

Williams struggled somewhat during pre-season testing, and didn't have much to celebrate after Saturday in Melbourne. Stroll qualified in P14, while Sirotkin dropped out in Q1. Stroll says that the result is not ideal, but he is still eyeing points on Sunday.

"We would have signed up for P14 coming into the weekend after Barcelona," the 19-year-old said. "It was not ideal, as we could have improved on the lap in our second run in Q2. However, I got held up a little bit in the last sector and I didn't have the tyres in the window, as the fronts were cold and that kind of cost me.

"I felt good in the car and there was probably a little bit more in it. We are kind of in the mix for the points, depending on what happens. We will see where we end up tomorrow," he concluded.

Major Tom

Posts: 152

There'e definately in trouble. It looks like they will be lucky to beat Sauber this year.

1
Mar 24 2018 - 13:17

F1 News Sergey Sirotkin Lance Stroll Robert Kubica Williams

Replies (13)

Major Tom

Posts: 152
There'e definately in trouble. It looks like they will be lucky to beat Sauber this year.
- + 1
- Mar 24 2018 - 13:17
xoya

Posts: 583
Depending on the contracts, they could probably put Kubica in a car for at least one race and see what's what.
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- Mar 24 2018 - 14:17
- Pauli
  
  Posts: 140
  Putting Kubica in a race is very expensive because he has to return a few millions of insurance payments when he enters F1 race.
  + 0
  
  Mar 24 2018 - 14:50
- denis1304
  
  Posts: 284
  @PAULI what are you talking about?
  + 0
  
  Mar 24 2018 - 15:51
- Orchide
  
  Posts: 82
  @Denis1304 If Kubica starts in a F1 race he have to pay back all the millions he got from his insurance company.
  He got that Money based on that he could never start in another F1 race...so if he does, loads of money must be payed back.
  + 0
  
  Mar 24 2018 - 20:20
renaultFanF1

Posts: 80
Well... they asked for it. Not sure what they expected from two young drivers, where one is mediocre at best and the other one is a rookie
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- Mar 24 2018 - 14:41
denis1304

Posts: 284
"The line-up is the least experienced on the F1 grid this year" how?
Stroll have 1 full season (with podium) when Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley have 5 and 4 races...
- + 0
- Mar 24 2018 - 16:11
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I think the two are doing the best they can with a pretty bad car. I mean in the case of the Merc, even a bad driver could win a championship in that car. This car, despite having a Merc unit, just looks like a hazzle to be in.
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- Mar 24 2018 - 16:14
- blade
  
  Posts: 341
  Calle - what a load of nonsense. I think if you watch the replays Bottas put the car in the wall. True the car is wicked, but it's too much to say a bad driver could win in it - you should know better than that mate.
  + 1
  
  Mar 24 2018 - 21:59
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Load of nonsense? From me? Dont be silly. I'd never utter anything like that. Looking at e.g 2014, 15 or 16 I believe firmly that any driver could've brought those cars to a win. It wouldnt surprise me if a certain degree of that hold true for this year aswell. And even the best possible car will punish you if you get too greedy, BLADE. That doesnt mean it is a bad or not as good car, its just a driver error, and no car can alleviate all of those. But of course you know this already. :)
  + 0
  
  Mar 24 2018 - 23:45
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  It's been just one race and it will a bit longer to make some proper judgement. However, I feel pretty confident that Williams is not the second worst car on the grid. Stroll and Sirotkin were dreadful in Australia, especially during quali. But I do think that you @calle for some reason have become a bit of a Williams drivers apologist. Not saying you're necessarily wrong on this because it's just one race.
  + 0
  
  Mar 25 2018 - 23:12
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
But, Williams's finance department should be very happy.
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- Mar 24 2018 - 20:37
- blade
  
  Posts: 341
  Williams should be ashamed of themselves. Clearly they are more interested in funding (and I know that is important), but Stroll is no way a seasoned campaigner - they would have been way better off sticking with Massa. Williams are a joke at the moment and I agree with the earlier post - they will do well to avoid the wooden spoon this season.
  + 0
  
  Mar 24 2018 - 22:01