[PapaofGags]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/willi...-/3196391/

Lets bleeding hope so.....    

Williams has approached the development of its 2019 Formula 1 car with “quite a different process” after learning from its problems with this year’s design.

[Monster Hesh]

Ted reporting Williams entertaining Rich Energy, who want to be in F1. We could be a black and gold Williams next season should they be main sponsor.

[LotusLover]

Never heard of them tbh

[Jody Barton]

I did wonder what had happened to them. They had an awful lot of cash for the FI deal, and Perez doing what he did essentially scuppered the deal that would have saved the team from going into administration and stopped them losing their points. It also seemed coordinated with Lawrence Stroll, because he was the only prospective buyer already ready with an administration bid lined up. The guy behind Rich Energy seemed super pissed off with that, I also think Mercedes were annoyed. I got the feeling then it wasn't the last we'd seen of Rich Energy. Could be very good for Williams as he seemingly has ridiculous amounts of money behind him.

[LotusLover]

I did wonder what had happened to them. They had an awful lot of cash for the FI deal, and Perez doing what he did essentially scuppered the deal that would have saved the team from going into administration and stopped them losing their points. It also seemed coordinated with Lawrence Stroll, because he was the only prospective buyer already ready with an administration bid lined up. The guy behind Rich Energy seemed super pissed off with that, I also think Mercedes were annoyed. I got the feeling then it wasn't the last we'd seen of Rich Energy. Could be very good for Williams as he seemingly has ridiculous amounts of money behind him.

So is Perez the villain in all this?? I heard he effectively helped FI by triggering whatever it was??

[Monster Hesh]

I did wonder what had happened to them. They had an awful lot of cash for the FI deal, and Perez doing what he did essentially scuppered the deal that would have saved the team from going into administration and stopped them losing their points. It also seemed coordinated with Lawrence Stroll, because he was the only prospective buyer already ready with an administration bid lined up. The guy behind Rich Energy seemed super pissed off with that, I also think Mercedes were annoyed. I got the feeling then it wasn't the last we'd seen of Rich Energy. Could be very good for Williams as he seemingly has ridiculous amounts of money behind him.

So is Perez the villain in all this?? I heard he effectively helped FI by triggering whatever it was??

He did release a statement shortly after it all, I think I posted it in the FI thread.

[Jody Barton]

At the time Perez said he did it to save the team, but a lot of people thought differently. Rich energy drinks were close to getting the contract with VJ signed to take a controlling share and pay off all debtors. That was reported in the specialist press and there were even interviews conducted with those involved. VJ seemed reluctant t sell 100% stake in the team and so i think the deal was initially for a 60% controlling share, and then buy out options over a period of time for both parties should circumstances change. That would have meant Force India keeping their points, and all jobs were guaranteed. So why Perez thought there was a need to "save the team" is beyond me, perhaps you'd have to ask him, maybe he didn't trust VJ to sign the deal, maybe he didn't like Rich Energies plans for the team, although he was talking similar investment levels to those put forward by Stroll. It's a tough one, because we're on the outside looking in, but my gut at the time was that Perez did it to save his own skin maybe.

[Monster Hesh]

hahaha, well, nevermind Williams. Haas get Rich Energy as title sponsor.

[Jody Barton]

I wonder whether it was more dithering by Claire Williams again? She's lost them other sponsors in the past because she turned her nose up at them because they weren't "prestige" brands that fitted with Williams' identity. Either way, I would still love to know where all this Rich Energy money comes from. I have never seen any of their product anywhere and I'm fairly well traveled.

[PapaofGags]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/smedl...m/3208729/

Williams performance chief Rob Smedley will leave the Formula 1 team at the end of the 2018 season.

Smedley joined Williams from Ferrari in 2014 as head of performance engineering in a newly-created role as the team sought to bounce back from a tough 2013 campaign.

He helped guide Williams to back-to-back third-place finishes in the constructors' championship, then fifth place in 2016 and 2017.

Smedley said he has not decided on what he will do next, while Williams has no immediate replacement as it is thought to still be evaluating changes behind-the-scenes in response to its tough season.