@Ginger_Fig  
I really do have to question Williams’ decision to promote Claire. Don’t get me wrong, Claire is doing her best, but they could have promoted Johnny instead, who actually was involved at iSport for a while, whilst Claire was promoted from PR.
 
But Williams really need to get their act together now, no matter what. They fired the so-called root of their car problems (Paddy Lowe), so if they’re not closer to the midfield, then they’re in deep shit.
 
Rexona, Orlen and a few other sponsors have jumped ship and Williams announced they lost £16.8m in the first half of last year. The loudest alarm bell is they have sold the Advanced Engineering division, which is not a good sign.
 
The car’s aerodynamics were poor last season, the car looked bulky, and Williams refused to use Mercedes’ carbon gearbox. They need to have made massive steps for ‘21. Otherwise, I don’t see them being around much longer.
 
Either way, I don’t see Williams making a car as good as this ever again.
 

 
On another note, I would love to have more manufacturers in F1. I was so pissed to find out Porsche had been developing an F1 entry but backed out of it because none of the other manufacturers were willing to simplifying the engine formula. Apparently, Ilmor and Cosworth were interested in doing so as well, and Aston Martin said they would’ve stepped in at Red Bull if Honda pulled out.
 
But we’ll never know now.

@FerrariRacerF430  
Actually I was looking at it from a financial/strategic angle. Yeah, the Honda was lousy but they bring the money necessary to address Williams’ real issues. A factory deal brings a new wind tunnel, better airflow dynamics correlation and more advanced simulators & test rigs. In addition, when you’re a factory team you get to work hand-in-hand with the engine shop…customer teams must design around what they’re sold.  
This stuff all matters…look how Red Bull fell off the boil when they stopped being the Renault factory team. Even with Adrian Newey they’ve only been able to mount an occasional challenge. It’s only now, with Honda $upport that they look ready to challenge for a title next this year.
 
What my old fan’s heart really pines for is to see Cosworth & Ford re-unite for a return to the grid, Ford having learned their lesson about team ownership from the Jaguar debacle. Better to just stay an engine supplier. Williams would be a perfect fit for a hands-off factory deal like that.

@Ginger_Fig  

 
I don’t really blame them for not doing that. At the time, Honda was seen as the worst engine on the grid. Red Bull was also heavily critizised when they took them on.
 
We only now say Williams should’ve taken Honda because only now we know they can make race winning engines again.

@Ginger_Fig  
Oh crap, that’s not Keke, it’s Jacques Laffite. I just noticed the helmet.  
Also, Keke ran car #6 that season. Here he is in Dallas, where he won.  

@Thunder Spark  

I’d disagree with that, the management seems to be the only thing keeping the team alive at the moment.
 
If the management was crap they’d have gone into administration and been sold multiple times like Jordan→Spyker→Midland→Malrussia→Force India→Racing Point. Frank & Claire have held onto the team, kept it independent (even losing the BMW engine deal to stay independent) and expanded the business with a successful engineering company. They’re doing fine.
 
However, as we all know the car has been crap for the past 2 years. They’ve really screwed up the aero engineering for the last two seasons but longer term I think it’s the lack of a manufacturer engine deal that keeps them from returning to World Championship contention. The Mercedes unit they’ve got is the best customer unit you can buy, but it’s never gonna challenge the factory team.  
Yeah, yeah, I know, all the customer teams are supposed to get the same spec as the factory squads,|| but does anyone believe that actually happens?||
 
I’ve been watching Williams F1 since Rosberg was driving for the team. Not Nico…his father Keke.  
 
_{Keke Rosberg, 1984. Don’t know what track but it looks like Brands Hatch.}
 
In my opinion they should have swooped in and signed a deal with Honda while McLaren was feuding with them and before Red Bull showed interest. Too late for that now, I fear.

@FerrariRacerF430  
I know. And they’ve had to resort to pay drivers since BMW ditched them.
 
Nakajima, Maldonado, Senna, Stroll, Sirotkin, Kubica and now Latifi.
 
The management is crap at the moment.

@Ginger_Fig  
At least they were competitive back then. Nowadays they can’t even score a point without half the grid getting penalties/DNFs

@Ginger_Fig  
Ralf carried the team that year.
 
I think Zanardi probably wasn’t the best choice for Wiliams in ‘99, but Villeneuve had left and I don’t think Montoya was ready for F1 yet.
 
Williams never really was the same after Newey left them in ’96.

I saw this car run at Spa that year. Coulthard won the GP in the McLaren.  
Unfortunately 1999 was not a good year for Williams.