With its long-term future up in the air, Williams desperately needs a lifeline in some form of financial backing. F1 managing director Ross Brawn revealed that “serious people” were considering investing in the struggling backmarker team. Brawn had tough words for Wiliams and asserted that the team’s misery was a result of its own incompetence on track.
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Brawn on Williams
Last week, Williams announced that it would be selling a majority stake in the team with the hopes of securing some form of viable funding. The news came on the backdrop of Williams splitting up with its title sponsor Rokit over alleged nonpayment of dues.
With its title sponsor gone and a horrendous campaign in 2019, Williams starts the 2020 season on the backfoot. But their struggle isn’t a recent phenomenon.
Williams initially performed above expectations in the early stages of the turbo-hybrid era but their performance drastically declined as the years progressed. In 2014, the British team came quite close to challenging the seemingly indomitable Mercedes for race wins and podiums.
While the Silver Arrows went on to dominate the competition, Williams dropped down the field. Let alone competing in the midfield, the Grove outfit is plumb last, more often than not.
However, they might just make it through these tough times with the right investment. Brawn opened on the Williams situation.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Brawn said: “The Williams situation has got to be dealt with, but there’s been some fairly serious people looking at Williams, and I think it shows that there’s a decent model behind it to make it a serious consideration.”
“It’s a team with fantastic heritage, and obviously I do have a soft spot for them.
The reality is that F1 is pretty brutal”
“And you’re measured every two weeks on the track”
“Or every week as will be the case in the next few months!
“There’s no hiding place. Quite honestly, if you finish last, as they have for the last few years, there’s going to be a consequence. And now, unfortunately, they’ve reached that point.
“Whoever goes in there needs to look at the fundamental reasons why they’ve not been able to perform, and whether it is just finance, or the structure they’ve got, or the approach they’ve taken. I honestly don’t know.
