Team Michael and Tomlinson leaving Williams, Coughlan hired

Chatters · 3 May 2011, 10:12 (Ref:2873392)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91085

This doesn't sound like good news. I'm not sure if Mike Coughlan is the man who will be able to turn Williams' fortunes around.

ECW Dan Selby · 3 May 2011, 10:21 (Ref:2873400)

To be fair i'm glad change has happened so soon.

The team's had an awful start. They're not much better off than the new teams and that is a complete joke.

Michael's had his time. Should be interesting to see what Coughlan can do.

Just look what effect James Key had almost instantaneously at Sauber. Watch this space!

Selby

ECW Dan Selby · 3 May 2011, 10:22 (Ref:2873401)

Oh I just read 'at the end of the season'...

Shame :P

Selby

**GTRMagic** · 3 May 2011, 10:36 (Ref:2873412)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

To be fair i'm glad change has happened so soon.

The team's had an awful start. They're not much better off than the new teams and that is a complete joke.

Michael's had his time. Should be interesting to see what Coughlan can do.

Just look what effect James Key had almost instantaneously at Sauber. Watch this space!

Selby

It could be successfully argued that this is a few years too late

Sad for the pair, I am sure they have given their all.. but on track performances did not reflect the efforts

Super Hans · 3 May 2011, 10:39 (Ref:2873415)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

Oh I just read 'at the end of the season'...

Shame :P

Selby

I think it makes sense for Sam Michael to remain until the end of the season. It's his car and he's the man to develop it. Meanwhile, Coughlan can get on with starting work early on next year's car. It's a good chance for him to restore his rep post-2007.

**GTRMagic** · 3 May 2011, 10:41 (Ref:2873417)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Hans

I think it makes sense for Sam Michael to remain until the end of the season. It's his car and he's the man to develop it. Meanwhile, Coughlan can get on with starting work early on next year's car. It's a good chance for him to restore his rep post-2007.

How do you develop a pile of junk?

This season's Williams is even worse than previous seasons'. I wonder if a 'B' car is in their future?

ASCII Man · 3 May 2011, 10:43 (Ref:2873422)

Oh yeah, even more instability by kicking out and bringing in new staff, just what Williams needed.
This ought to work.

Super Hans · 3 May 2011, 10:46 (Ref:2873423)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

How do you develop a pile of junk?

This season's Williams is even worse than previous seasons'. I wonder if a 'B' car is in their future?

Yes, it is junk, but what is the point in having the new team attempt to polish a turd (so to speak) when they can steal a march on their rivals by starting work on next year's car early?

ECW Dan Selby · 3 May 2011, 10:46 (Ref:2873425)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Hans

I think it makes sense for Sam Michael to remain until the end of the season. It's his car and he's the man to develop it. Meanwhile, Coughlan can get on with starting work early on next year's car. It's a good chance for him to restore his rep post-2007.

Yeh fair point - maybe a transitional period might work.

But again, looking at Sauber, it seemed to work ok for them.

Selby

ECW Dan Selby · 3 May 2011, 10:47 (Ref:2873427)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

Oh yeah, even more instability by kicking out and bringing in new staff, just what Williams needed.
This ought to work.

So this team has worked well for the past ten years, has it?

There comes a point where change is absolutely necessary, and I think this is one of those times.

Selby

**GTRMagic** · 3 May 2011, 10:48 (Ref:2873428)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Yes, it is junk, but what is the point in having the new team attempt to polish a turd (so to speak) when they can steal a march on their rivals by starting work on next year's car early?

Are next season's regulations cast in stone? Does Williams, or more importantly Mr Coughlan, have enough input from the Pirelli work so far and into the future to build a car that will work with the tyres?

This isnt a second coming... its fixing something that has been broken for a fair while unfortunately...

ECW Dan Selby · 3 May 2011, 11:02 (Ref:2873435)

I think 2012 is the same (as good as) as this year's regs, isn't it?

2013 is where it all goes crazy.

Selby

Razor · 3 May 2011, 11:03 (Ref:2873437)

To quote Star Wars: I have a bad feeling about this.

nobster · 3 May 2011, 11:05 (Ref:2873439)

A change for the better? As a long time Williams fan I am glad that something is about to change, we will have to wait if the change will work out for them but it surely can't get any worse...

ECW Dan Selby · 3 May 2011, 11:07 (Ref:2873441)

I do understand people's pessimism, but as Williams fans, do you not think a change was absolutely necessary?

I'm genuinely intrigued.

Selby

**GTRMagic** · 3 May 2011, 11:09 (Ref:2873443)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

I do understand people's pessimism, but as Williams fans, do you not think a change was absolutely necessary?

I'm genuinely intrigued.

Selby

It was necessary, but back in 2005 when Mr Webber had all that reliability rubbish going on... very easy to say now, after 10 years in the seat, that it didnt work

Wonder what the public investors think?

**GTRMagic** · 3 May 2011, 11:14 (Ref:2873445)

Adam Parr Offered To Go Too!!

And Bye Bye to Patrick Head at Season's end

ECW Dan Selby · 3 May 2011, 11:31 (Ref:2873455)

Wow, it's all going on.

I still think this can only be a good thing, tbh. How could it get much worse?

Selby

p-matt · 3 May 2011, 12:18 (Ref:2873483)

I'm not sure if Coughlan will be able to hit the ground running. He has been out of the sport for four years now, and there has been a significant regulation change in that period and a new tyre supplier.

Unless he nicks it all from Ferrari again...

50-SIX · 3 May 2011, 12:35 (Ref:2873496)

Quote:

Originally Posted by p-matt

Unless he nicks it all from Ferrari again...

If I were him, I would find a good hiding place behind a RedBull fridge before nicking ideas of these boys this season

OZ_HCR32 · 3 May 2011, 12:47 (Ref:2873507)

I hope that some of these changes happen in conjunction with the likes of Porsche or somebody jumping in next year to give themselves a chance to start to gel ahead of a full tilt at a 2013 car.

Some engineering staff changes is great, but some funding and an announcement over drivers if Rubens is stepping aside.

I am not sure how special Coughlan is?!?!? I dont think he is in the same mould as Byrne, Newey etc

strider · 3 May 2011, 13:43 (Ref:2873530)

I think the loss of Patrick Head will be greater than that of Sam Michael. There are some people whose shoes are really difficult to fill and it's been apparent for a while that Michael was not the right man.

kurski · 3 May 2011, 13:58 (Ref:2873538)

I"m glad Mike Coughlan return to Formula One series, but is it unfortunate that Tomlinson and Michael leave the teams end of the season...

Coughlan career:

Quote:

1984-1990 > designer, chief designer > Lotus (F1)
1991 : chief designer > Benetton (F1)
1992-1993 : track engineer, ingénieur en chief > Tyrrell (F1)
1994-1996 : project engineer > Ferrari (F1)
1997 : deputy technical director > Arrows (F1)
1998-2002 : technical director > Arrows (F1)
2003-2007 : chief designer > McLaren (F1)
2008-2010 : ingénieur, led the Force Protection Ocelot project > Ricardo
2010 : chief designer > projet Stefan GP
2011 : director of vehicle design > Michael Waltrip Racing (NASCAR)
may 2011- : chief engineer > Williams (F1)

ASCII Man · 3 May 2011, 14:29 (Ref:2873548)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

So this team has worked well for the past ten years, has it?

There comes a point where change is absolutely necessary, and I think this is one of those times.

Selby

Its exactly the lack of continuity that has plagued Williams the past 10 years, too many driver changes, too many engine supply changes, too many staff changes, etc, etc.
That coupled with ever decreasing funds are the main reasons why Williams is not a top outfit anymore.

I hope it works out for them, I really do.
But I fear its all too little, too late.

Seems like they're heading the way of Tyrrell, a slow slow death.

rayburn · 3 May 2011, 14:41 (Ref:2873549)

2010 : chief designer > projet Stefan GP

That surely must be the high point of his career to date.

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