F1 | Claire Williams defends Stroll. Minardi "Lauda, Senna, Alonso had a sponsor too"

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Williams is living an important rearrangement. As we told today, Paddy Lowe is arriving from Mercedes to fill the role of Team Principal. Sir Frank Williams and his daughter Claire are ready to abdicate and hand over to Lawrence Stroll, closing the experience of the last garage owner.

I am glad that Claire Williams has gone back on a topic I have faced in these pages, an issue linked to the so called drivers with the suitcase. The arrival of the young Lance Stroll has caused a lot of stir since he is backed by a well-to-do father. In this moment, anyway, the boy is exempt by any criticism because he has been able to impose himself in all the championships he raced, proving an excellent management.

All of the Formula 1 drivers can be considered with the suitcase because their career is backed by sponsors from their first steps in karting. History is full of such examples. Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Fernando Alonso (just to mention the World Champions). They were backed by some economic supports, private or not.

We must not hide behind a glass. Motorsport is a cost environment that founds itself on sponsoring. In my opinion it is like to look for a needle in a haystack. Before pointing an accusing finger at this boy, we must give him the time to go on track and show himself.

F1 | Minardi “Paddy Lowe towards the direction of Williams"

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With his switch from Mercedes to Williams, after three years full in success, Paddy Lowe is preparing himself not only to change his jacket, but also to assume the role as Team Principal in the stable founded by sir. Frank Williams in 1977.

An era ends. The last cornerstone of F1 (Founder, Team Principal, and Team Manager) is ready to abdicate. This could mean that the reins of the stable have passed into Lawrence Stroll’s hands, the father of Lance who is about to debut this year into the Circus at the Williams wheel, (probably) beside of the returning Felipe Massa.

With Paddy Lowe, an important technician gets to the top brass of the stable. He can create the basis to rebuilt a winning course. A scenario already seen with Ross Brawn when he launched his namesake stable, and the following year sold it it to Mercedes with the world constructors’ and drivers’ 2016 titles in the pocket.

I wish this handover is an auspice for the English team that will count on Stroll’s substantial financial and managerial capabilities.

The displacement of the ex executive technical director of Mercedes is the last example of how Formula 1 has been changing. A Formula 1 that is increasingly in the hands of managers who now lead a team and then change their jacket.

It remains to guess the gardening leave period that Lowe will have to face before entering in action at Grove. That operation will trigger a sequence of procedures linked to the drivers’ market that we will face next days.

F1 | Silverstone ready to give up. Minardi «A worrying alarm-bell»

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If a circuit like Silverstone is thinking to leave the Circus of F1, in spite of its last years’s “sold out” there is something wrong in the system. It is an alarm bell very worrisome that we should face seriously.

We are talking abour an historic circuit with a great passionate and expert audience that fills up the platforms and the fields.We saw it last year, during the British grand prix won by their home champion Lewis Hamilton.

If in a reality like Silverstone the numbers do not add up, the system created by Ecclestone creaks dangerously. The same is true for Canada that would not payed yet.

Mr. Ecclestone denys any troubles since the governments would have the commitment to intervene to heal the accounts, and since F1 can do without Europe. Unfortunately, the Malaysian state (sponsor of Sepang’s grand prix) decided to leave F1 because it wouldn’t be a good investment.

We have to review the system giving more commercial spaces to the circuits, spaces useful to preserve the balance and renew the facilities. Going on along this way, they risk the collapse. The suffering circuits are increasing and the new ones don’t seem a guaranty. We have to remember that the roots of this sport are deeply-rooted in Europe along with the passion of its fan. 

The dark side of F1. Minardi «A questionable Mercedes choice »

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Felipe Nasr knows it very well. After rescuing the Sauber from a disastrous season (at the detriment of its rival Manor motorized by Mercedes) now risks a layoff by his team in favor of Pascal Wehrlein (driver at Manor).

We must step back till Sunday 12 November, the Brazilian Gp weekend and penultimate world championship event. Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein’s Manor was in the tenth place in the constructors’ standings thanks to the point achieved in Austria by his German driver. The tail-end out of the top ten is the Sauber.

Under the deluge in Sao Paulo, a race characterized by red flags, safety-car, and by the incredible Max Verstappen’s race, Felipe Nasr drags the Swiss stable till the ninth place, digging Manor out from the top-ten and giving a precious heap of millions of dollars coming from TV revenues to Sauber. In Abu Dhabi, no one of them conquers the point zone and the standings remains unchanged. The loss of income – a life vest for the little teams – brings the Manor into receivership with the great risk of not being able to take take part to the 2017 season.

After placing Esteban Ocon in Force India (motorized by Mercedes as well) at Nico Hulkenber’s place (who has moved to Renault), Toto Wolff would be redirecting Wehrlein (an official announcement still lacks) to Sauber beside the confirmed Erikkson, replacing the Brazilian driver Nasr.

The name of the German young driver had been put near Mercedes many times to substitute Nico Rosberg beside Lewis Hamilton, where, instead, it is awaited the Finnish Bottas, who should leave his place at williams for the returning Felipe Massa beside the neo 18-year-old Lance stroll.

A Mercedes choice that makes us discuss, since it has de facto contributed to the failure of his satellite team.