Williams & BMW extend partnership

**Stephen Green** · 27 Jun 2003, 14:08 (Ref:644803)

Reuters report the partnership has been extended until 2009.

" This new contract envisages enhanced integration between the two partners" said BMW's Burkhard Goeschel. FW said " I have every confidence that with the structure of this new agreement we will be able to draw from a deeper pool of BMW resource"

ASCII Man · 27 Jun 2003, 14:13 (Ref:644806)

More input from BMW in stuff like chassis design sounds good.
I think...

BootsOntheSide · 27 Jun 2003, 14:23 (Ref:644813)

I'm slightly suprised at this, I wasn't expecting BMW to tie themselves down to Williams for so long. The actual WIlliams chassis has been weaker than the engine for each of the last 3 years, and Gerhard Berger has been agitated about this.

What happens if Honda buy BAR, Mercedes buy McLarenoir strike out on their own? BMW become the only non-fully-works team. This may not impact their track performance, but it will cost them in the publicity stake,s which is ultiamtely what they're their for. 'Reanult' winning a race sounds much more impressive than 'Williams, assisted by BMW', which is how the man on the street views it.

Perhaps increased cross-pollination of technical staff will be the solution to the poor performance. Thinking about it, Frank and patrick will probably be ready to sell up by 2009, and BMW may buy the team. The whole environemtn of F1 might've changed by then though - 6 years is a long time to make this commitment.

gttouring · 27 Jun 2003, 14:53 (Ref:644853)

It appears all th teams will go full works, do you think BMW is going to race a bad williams? it will be very heavily influenced. no one is as lucky as maclaren and mercedes that is a partnership
newey is the best.
Now Toyota better get their **** together, BAR will become HONDA soon enouugh the livery is already leaning that way, Jaguar is a very poor works effort but it is a work team. Renault...I don't see the trend dieing out any time soon.

billaboy · 27 Jun 2003, 14:55 (Ref:644859)

I thought Gerhard Berger retired at the start of the season....whats he still doing with Williams?

Logrence · 27 Jun 2003, 14:59 (Ref:644870)

I think BMW see it as their own team but without having to deal with all the crummy day-to-day stuff.

climb · 27 Jun 2003, 15:11 (Ref:644879)

Quote:

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
... This may not impact their track performance, but it will cost them in the publicity stake,s which is ultiamtely what they're their for. 'Reanult' winning a race sounds much more impressive than 'Williams, assisted by BMW', which is how the man on the street views it.
..

Honda has been in F1 from almost 20 years, and never got on the track with a branded car; they tried 1999, but also in that case they entrusted Dallara to privide for the chassis.
At the end of the day they estimated that providing the sole engine, the return of image is pretty much the same, it involves a lower investment and risk in case of bad results.
Take the case of Toyota and Honda: Toyota pays entirely their failure, whereas Honda can say: it depends on BAR's bad chassis; BMW as well can chanrge FW25 for disappointing season start.

gttouring · 27 Jun 2003, 15:14 (Ref:644880)

HONDA? 20 years, perhaps straight but honda has been in it since 1964. thats 40 years mate

ASCII Man · 27 Jun 2003, 15:36 (Ref:644897)

And with their own car too.
(This is the 1966 car)

**Bononi** · 27 Jun 2003, 16:49 (Ref:644947)

Well, I'm glad they have extended the contract. Williams is a solid team, and BMW deserves that.

**Spudgun** · 27 Jun 2003, 17:13 (Ref:644955)

I must say I'm VERY pleased.

esorniloc · 27 Jun 2003, 18:07 (Ref:644992)

Its great news indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that if BMW had set up its own team it would have taken many years to get a chasis as good as the engine.

OK, the Williams isn't the best chassis at the moment, but its getting better. In the last 4 races they have scored 41 points which is only 12 behind Ferrari (16 ahead of McLaren and 20 ahead of Renault).

Damon · 27 Jun 2003, 18:38 (Ref:645008)

It was the only smart move BWM could make. If they were to pull out they would have lost the battle against Mercedes in their key performance market, if they had gone it alone then there is no way they'd be on Williams/Mclaren/Ferrari pace any time soon and with the top teams all manufacturer backed already there was no option to jump ship and go elsewhere. BWM needs Williams more than the other way around so this was always going to happen.

Sodemo · 27 Jun 2003, 19:01 (Ref:645020)

I was VERY surprised at the length of the contract, I was expecting maybe till the end of 2005.

Seems like BMW are in now for the long haul.

Whats the bet that if they haven't won the championship by 2009 they pull out?

Damon · 27 Jun 2003, 19:12 (Ref:645028)

Ferrari have proved that long term stability is the key to success. It was always going to be all or nothing.

Mark Webber · 28 Jun 2003, 02:32 (Ref:645234)

unless it is a long term take over of the team I think BMW have made a big mistake
Only time will tell

avsfan733 · 28 Jun 2003, 03:13 (Ref:645244)

Looking at it as people seem to be, with BAR becoming a official works team and the same being already true at Williams for all intents and purposes whatever name is on the cars, this looks even worse for Minardi and Jordan, and it leaves Sauber in a very akward positiong, if Minardi and Jordan drop out, and the other two become full works as opposed to the quasi arangment we see now, that leaves Sauber as nothing but a virtual ferrari junior team. They have their new wind tunnel, but how will they compete in a works dominated world. It would be interesting to watch IMO because of the fact that they regularly beat two full works teams now and compete with BAR

**GTRMagic** · 28 Jun 2003, 04:45 (Ref:645261)

Is there a clause in the deal that says they will stop slinging off at each other in the press??

Mark Webber · 28 Jun 2003, 06:05 (Ref:645287)

with Williams I doubt it

esorniloc · 28 Jun 2003, 16:16 (Ref:645506)

Quote:

Originally posted by The Monster
I was VERY surprised at the length of the contract, I was expecting maybe till the end of 2005.

The first deal was for 5 years (2000 - 2004) so it was always going to be longer than an extra year (05).

So its just another 5 year contract.

The first contract was probably first talked about around 96 time, so they have now been together for a long time.

Inigo Montoya · 29 Jun 2003, 21:25 (Ref:646502)

I guess they BMW boys took down the poster of the turtle in their motorhome then?

RussianFriend · 30 Jun 2003, 10:04 (Ref:646974)

Excellent news! It's great for F1 that Williams is still Willliams. After Ken Tyrell retirement Frank is the only tradition guardian in the autosport. I can't imaginate his team without him.

Just remember what Ford did with Steward team! God save Frank Williams!

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