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| Williams admits he got it wrong; first for everything | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 19 2008, 09:05 AM (650 Views) | |
| Red Andy | May 20 2008, 07:28 PM Post #16 |
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.....anytime soon.
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| FlutterBy | May 21 2008, 07:47 AM Post #17 |
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Refueller
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Of course Williams got it wrong. He sacked the best test/development driver on the grid, a man who contributed to the development of no fewer than four* (or should that be five.....?) championship-winning cars including his own, and then lost the best aerodynamicist on the grid. No wonder the team went steadily downhill after that. *1992, 1993, 1996, 1997. And the 1994 car was certainly capable of winning.. |
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| AJM1987 | May 21 2008, 08:24 AM Post #18 |
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Tyre Changer
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It's certainly no surprise that McLaren went on to win the championship with Newey and both Arrows and Jordan saw dramatic improvements in their performances with Hill in the team. He has his critics but he was definitely one of the main reasons why Williams were able to develop some bloody good cars through the 90s. |
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| Brave_Lee_Flea | May 21 2008, 08:39 AM Post #19 |
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Chief Engineer
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Now I love my Damon Hill but I can understand Frank's decision. Remember that Frank made the decision not to renew Damon's contract 18 months before it was due to expire, well before Damon had won his title and at a time when MS had been making Damon look clumsy. What was wrong, and what lead to the departure of Newey, was not telling Damon of the decision until it was too late for Damon to secure a decent drive. Newey felt that Damon deserved better treatment than that (and it's hard to disagree) but it is also (imo) slightly cowardly. What hurt Williams probably even more than the deprture of Hill and Newey (Mclaren didn't do all that well with him, MP4-18 anyone?) was Renault's withdrawal from the sport leaving Team Willy without a decent engine supply. |
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| FlutterBy | May 21 2008, 08:57 AM Post #20 |
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Refueller
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Even Frank admitted that DH had pulled himself together by the last race of 1995, and seeing DH go on to win the first few races of 96, Frank really should have reconsidered. Trouble was I think, by that time he had taken on Renault's favourite, JV.. |
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| Brave_Lee_Flea | May 21 2008, 11:00 AM Post #21 |
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Chief Engineer
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I think that JV was already on board and that Frank signed HHF to replace Damon, though I could be mistaken. |
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| FlutterBy | May 21 2008, 12:06 PM Post #22 |
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Refueller
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JV was signed up as a replacement for DC for 1996, true. Renault of course were hoping for a French (-Canadian) champion, and I have no doubt that they would want to encourage FW to keep JV and (possibly) want him to lose DH as he was an obstacle to JV getting the title. Recall JYS's remarks warning them against 'technical interference' at Suzuka. Certainly Team Willy was giving DH a lot of quite unnecessary messing-about, such as making him switch to left-foot braking halfway through the season. And as for that fiasco at Spa.. But I'm not clear on when, exactly, HHF was signed. Accounts seem to differ, some saying that it was indeed as early as 95, others much later, as FW was looking for an engine replacement. |
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| TheCompleteGuitarist | May 21 2008, 12:12 PM Post #23 |
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Driver
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??? |
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| Rams | May 21 2008, 12:13 PM Post #24 |
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Chief Engineer
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They switched Hill to left foot braking and took away his clutch peddle because he kept making terrible starts. I doubt Frentzen had anything to do with engines considering the BMW deal was signed in 1998, but I'd guess the wheels were in motion in 1995. Ideally Frank would've liked Villeneuve and Coulthard but Ron had got Coulthard to sign a pre-contract in 1994 when his future was less certain. |
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| FlutterBy | May 21 2008, 12:15 PM Post #25 |
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Refueller
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There was a mix-up over which driver should pit, and they were both called in - JV first. DH had to weave his way through the straw bales to wait for Jacques to finish his stop. give me a few moments and I'll try to find an article about it. |
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| FlutterBy | May 21 2008, 12:33 PM Post #26 |
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Got the details slightly wrong, sorry: http://grandprix.com/gpe/rr594.html Also, see the review video for that year. |
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| FlutterBy | May 21 2008, 12:42 PM Post #27 |
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Refueller
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And that would have helped, would it? Tell me, do you drive (right-foot braking) and have you ever gone karting (left-foot)? Making the changeover is far from easy, you are constantly warned about double-footing, which would burn out the kart clutch rather quickly. It's much more likely that the change was the cause of Hill's poor starts than the result! |
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| John | May 21 2008, 12:44 PM Post #28 |
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Team Boss
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| Rams | May 21 2008, 12:47 PM Post #29 |
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Chief Engineer
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Yes I have experianced both. Tell me is it easier to start by releasing a hand paddle and having your foot already on the throttle, or have to control the cluth with your left foot AND have to switch your right foot from the brake to the throttle? Nearly all the other drivers were using it. |
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| FlutterBy | May 21 2008, 02:36 PM Post #30 |
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Refueller
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It's easier IF you're used to it (which DH wasn't) or if you have time to get used to it (which DH didn't). He was doing fine with his usual layout. If it's not broke, don't fix it - especially at a critical time. |
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8:33 AM Jul 11