Was the Williams team running a wet setup?

2082 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by SteveT, Apr 18, 2002

The HACK

Discussion Starter · Apr 15, 2002

This may all be speculation but even the Speed Channel annoucers were saying that there's no way Juan Pablo can be this un-competitive unless something is wrong with the car. It looks like Ferrari brought out the dry setup (Michael was driving the T-car while Reuben was driving Michael's car) while BMW had the wet setup on their car. It's also evident from some of the slow-mo shots that Williams AND McLaren had the softer suspension setup anticipating rain that never came.

Look like they took a big gamble and lost big time. No-one from the Williams team will probably ever admit they put the wet package on the car hoping it would rain. I think they should've put the wet package on Ralf's car and dry package on JPM's car, just in case it does rain it'll give Ralf a big advantage and if it doesn't, at least BMW will end up with a car blocking RB and someone with the balls to try and pass Michael. The last thing they need is a Ferrari sweep of the podium.

Unfortunately hindsight is always 20/20. Maybe they should've flown me to Imola and have me wash my car there. That'll guarantee the rain and would've screwed Ferrari's setup and strategy.

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Ack

· #2 · Apr 15, 2002

I also watched the entire race on Speed Channel and I thought they did say that Juan Pablo was running a wet setup.

It was one hell of a race. Michael Schumacher won his 4th title at Iomola and he never really had any competition (lead the whole race; started in pole position).

At the end of the race I believe Ferrari ended up with 40 points compared with BMW's 37 for the "Constructors Championship".

BMW-Williams F1 racer is wild with the auto-shifting setup. Speed Channel kept showing the in-car camera view and it was fun to watch.

Either way it was a great race to watch. :thumb:

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The HACK

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 15, 2002

Great race to watch, but the Imola track doesn't allow for good passing. Near the end the Sauber overtaking the Renault (I think it was Jarno Trulli being passed by Philippe Massa?) was spectacular but the feed missed the live pass. It was a really gutsy move and you knew it was coming, Massa was riding all over Trulli's arse. Any pass on Imola is incredible given how narrow the trackway is.

I was VERY disappointed...BMW probably should've done what Ferrari did, start with 2 different setups for the two drivers, wet AND dry and when it appears that rain wasn't coming, swap the wet driver with the spare car and have the dry setup on the spare.

If JPM could have taken RB on that first corner he could probably have easily hold off RB so Ralf could come in 2nd and keep the Williams ahead in constructor's points.

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richard

· #4 · Apr 15, 2002

You guys thought that was a great race to watch? You are kidding right? It was the most boring race I've seen in years. Absolutely nothing happened. Just a parade. F1 sucks since Senna died. I still follow it, but man, it's sure not like it used to be.

Alex Baumann

· #5 · Apr 15, 2002

Re: Well, the, maybe you shouldn't follow it anymore.

EugieBaange said:
I was never one who felt the sun rose and set in Senna's a** but, jeez, I sure am sick of you guys...

Ayrton Senna was NOT the be-all & end-all of F1. He was a hazard... I'm sorry he died but we're just lucky he didn't take someone else out with him.

OK, Imola isn't the best pure racing circuit on the schedule but, c'mon, there isn't *any*thing worth watching? Get real...

My $00.02

EDIT: cool! thread-killer strikes again :thumb:

Hmm, I don't know since when you've been following F1 but from your comments on Senna I hate to say that you have probably been watching the wrong guy instead of Senna in all those years(He was wearing a yellow helmet with green stripes

)

Senna was one of the best pilot ever sat behind a F1 wheel. It was always exciting to watch him racing. He was never boring, nor any single race he drove. There is and was no pilot who was as good as him on a wet track.

So what do you expect to see when you're watching an F1 race ? Do you expect the drivers to flashlight when passing ? or maybe use turn-signals ? It's a hard game, you must be more than good, nobody will remember when you pass the finish line as second. And good drivers will be remembered. Even M.Schumacher broke into tears as he reached 41 wins and was asked what kind of a feeling was it to catch Senna's number of wins. EB, he was not good, he was excellent.

BTW,here's a graphic of the drivers with most pole positions. See the position of 'hazard' Senna ?

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SteveT

· #6 · Apr 16, 2002

Nice writeup Alex. Yes, Senna was the best, a little different approach than anyone right now. And no I don't think Williams was on a wet setup, they may have made one adjustement too many, but I think Ferrari would have won anyway. If you read some of Patrick Head's comments about the FW24 you get the impression that he would have taken a little more of a risk at some new things. Regardless, they are solidly in second place for the constructors championship. All is not lost.

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richard

· #7 · Apr 16, 2002

Well said Alex. Michael may be as good if not better than Senna, but he doesn't have Ayrton's flair. That said, give Senna a F12002 and I bet he beats Michael. Of course if Senna saw what they've done to these cars he'd probably quit anyway. Narrow track, grooved tires, automatic everything...no wonder a guy like Kimi can come in with virtually no experience and be on pace.

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Pinecone

· #8 · Apr 16, 2002

Interesting, that for all the poles Senna had, Michael has many more wins.

There is far more to driving than getting poles.

Let's compare the lists for most wins, most podiums, most championships, most everything else.

I must admit to do miss watching Senna, LOSE.

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Patrick

· #9 · Apr 16, 2002

I doubt Williams went with a wet set up; Ralf said after the race that (and again yesterday) that the Ferraris were just too fast. That, is probably tough for him to admit. Ralf also pointed out that the fact that MSchumi lapped DC also goes to show how Ferrari dominated.

Moreover, I would say that it is "panick on the streets of London" for Ron Dennis and Norbert Haug.

Patrick

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Patrick

· #10 · Apr 16, 2002

richard said:
... Narrow track, grooved tires, automatic everything...no wonder a guy like Kimi can come in with virtually no experience and be on pace.

Hmm, soon I will hear Niki Lauda say, "that even a monkey can drive a modern Formula One car".

Sorry to have to wholeheartedly disagree, but Räikkönen is the real deal. Look at what he did last year, what he is doing to DC this year etc. Frank Williams and Patrick Head both admitted to missing the boat by not signing Räikkönen when they had a chance. Ferrari was after him as well last year. He can drive, even the crappy Chrysler that he has now.

Patrick

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The HACK

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 16, 2002

Patrick 320d said:
I doubt Williams went with a wet set up; Ralf said after the race that (and again yesterday) that the Ferraris were just too fast. That, is probably tough for him to admit. Ralf also pointed out that the fact that MSchumi lapped DC also goes to show how Ferrari dominated.

Moreover, I would say that it is "panick on the streets of London" for Ron Dennis and Norbert Haug.

Patrick

I don't know...From the first few races it looks like Ferrari simply does not have the power to run away from BMWs. The only race Ferrari dominated, Australia, was a wet and cold track and THAT one BMW definately came out with the wrong package. Again, you'll probably NEVER hear any of the drivers or people from the Williams camp admitting they made a strategic mistake like that.

I think Imola was lost in Australia...They came out with 2 dry package setups on a slightly damp and COLD track hoping it would warm up. It didn't and they got emarrassed. In Imola they were determined NOT to make that same mistake but in doing so came out with the wrong package again and got embarrassed again. At least that's my speculation.

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SteveT

· #12 · Apr 17, 2002

Patrick 320d said:
Moreover, I would say that it is "panick on the streets of London" for Ron Dennis and Norbert Haug.

Patrick

Patrick,

I'm sure you're very right. I saw somewhere that Ron hardly talks to Mario Illien.

Steve

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SteveT

· #13 · Apr 17, 2002

The HACK said:
I don't know...From the first few races it looks like Ferrari simply does not have the power to run away from BMWs.

I think Imola was lost in Australia...

Hack,

Really I think Australia was about tires, mostly. The Bridgestones just did better in the conditions than the Michelins. Temperature was part of it. And I'm not sure if the rain in Imola didn't disturb Williams process of tire scrubbing. On Fridays they've admitted they spend a lot of time just scrubbing tires getting them ready for Sunday. They couldn't to that in the rain and so didn't have enough prepared tires. Ferrari has less power than BMW, but the chassis produces more downforce so they don't need to run as much wing and can compensate for the power differential. I'm not going to speculate how much it is. This is the source of the unhappiness with the FW24 early on. You'll hear them refer to a downforce problem from time to time. The question is have they started on an FW24B. I suspect they have.

Steve

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The HACK

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 17, 2002

SteveT said:
Hack,

Really I think Australia was about tires, mostly. The Bridgestones just did better in the conditions than the Michelins. Temperature was part of it. And I'm not sure if the rain in Imola didn't disturb Williams process of tire scrubbing. On Fridays they've admitted they spend a lot of time just scrubbing tires getting them ready for Sunday. They couldn't to that in the rain and so didn't have enough prepared tires. Ferrari has less power than BMW, but the chassis produces more downforce so they don't need to run as much wing and can compensate for the power differential. I'm not going to speculate how much it is. This is the source of the unhappiness with the FW24 early on. You'll hear them refer to a downforce problem from time to time. The question is have they started on an FW24B. I suspect they have.

Steve

Actually in the weeks after the launch there was a lot of speculation that BMW/William's set up simply does not provide enough aerodynamic downforce. The nose of the Williams chasis simply sits too high.

Williams should really look at running with more downforce, period. The BMW engine has more power to overcome the downforce in corners than Ferrari's. Interestingly enough, Ferrari's suspension setup looks to be A LOT stiffer than BMW and McLaren's. The Ferrari was literally BOUNCING off of curbs in every single corner.

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Patrick

· #15 · Apr 17, 2002

SteveT said:
Patrick,

I'm sure you're very right. I saw somewhere that Ron hardly talks to Mario Illien.

Steve

Andrian Newey doesn't speak with Illien either; each supposedly blames the other for the teams problems. Whatever it is, I am losing hope! Time for Haka to un-retire and leave Erija at home in Monaco ...

Patrick

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SteveT

· #16 · Apr 18, 2002

Patrick 320d said:
Time for Haka to un-retire and leave Erija at home in Monaco ...

Patrick

I bet Mika's putting his feet up saying...man I'm a smart guy to get out when I did.

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