Poor Williams. It appears, everyone from the F1 world is lining up to take a shot at the team or offer condolences. Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was the latest member from the paddock to do just that. However, he might just be able to bail out the struggling team.
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Williams’ woes
For those unaware, financial troubles have forced the iconic British team to put up a majority stake for sale. In 2019, Williams posted a loss of a staggering 13 million euros.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The British team had a falling out with its title sponsor ROKiT over alleged nonpayment of dues. As a result, Williams now doesn’t even have a major backer before the 2020 season resumes.
After suffering one of its worst seasons in F1 last year, Williams is slowly transforming into a perennial backmarker F1 team. The glory days of utter dominance are long gone and all that’s left is a midfield team that’s drowning in debt.
Yes, it’s a tad harsh to go off on a team, especially one like Williams. However, they too must share the blame. More specifically, the upper management including deputy team principal Claire Williams.
With no positive growth and no talented drivers of its own, Williams is slowly devolving into a pay driver team that relies on the backing of drivers’ sponsors.
Will Bernie save the team?
Ecclestone took a veiled dig at Claire while sympathizing with the British team. Speaking to AFP, Bernie said:
“Williams would be a great loss, 100 percent,”
The 89-year-old disclosed that he was on the lookout for potential buyers.
“I am looking around to find people who could and might be involved.”
“I hope it is not the end of the Williams team,” he said.
“It would be the end of an era but I hope that someone who can afford to run the team properly can be found as it is a terrible thing to lose a team like that.
“It is not thinkable. Dear old Frank had to work so hard to make sure the team competed and that happened and now to see it disappear like that, it’s not good.
“Trouble was, Frank was hands-on in the way he managed the team,”
“Unfortunately, the current management do not have the same status as Frank has. He could get things done.”
