Williams to use Cosworth engines in 2010

[Giuseppe F1]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79615

Williams to use Cosworth engines in 2010
By Jonathan Noble
Monday, October 19th 2009, 10:09 GMT

Williams will switch to Cosworth engines next season, AUTOSPORT has learned, after believing its prospects for success in 2010 are best served with the independent engine maker.

Although the Grove-based outfit came close to a deal with Renault, high level sources at the French car manufacturer have revealed that Williams has now informed the company that it is no longer interested in a tie-up for next year.

With Toyota already having confirmed that it is ending its customer supply deal at the end of this year, it means that Williams has now settled on a switch to Cosworth.

Williams is refusing to confirm its engine plans until after the end of the season, but its engineering director Patrick Head praised Cosworth's efforts in preparing for its return to Formula 1.

"They are certainly very committed to it and working hard," he said. "They have been one of the options but we are not stating where we cast our final hook in terms of what is available to us until after the final race of the season. But I think our design office know what they are designing for."

Sources claim that one of the key attractions for Cosworth is the fact that the engine supplier will be able to re-tune its powe runit until early next year - something no other manufacturer is able to do because of F1's engine freeze.

The tweaks could help ensure Cosworth's engine is competitive throughout 2010, which is why Red Bull Racing is also considering a switch to the power unit if it is unsuccessful in its bid to secure Mercedes-Benz power.

Head said that his team had chosen to finish its partnership with Toyota because it fancied a change of direction.

"We had a very good relationship with Toyota," he said. "We made a decision about two months ago that we wanted to go in a different direction and I think the reasons are not for public consumption.

"We haven't had any falling out so it's an amicable parting. There were a number of factors that caused us to make the decision but I don't think that the combination of the reasons we decided to make a change are not ones that we are prepared to share. But it was nothing that caused any shouting and screaming, we chose to change direction.

"Ross Brawn and the team showed that you can make an engine change on Christmas Eve and still produce a pretty competitive car but I don't think our design office would thank us for doing that and they will have a little longer than that to design the car around the engine."

[ShiftingGears]

WilliamsF1 just lowered the chance of them attracting high rank drivers considerably.

[Sonic]

Well Patrick Head knows his stuff so he wouldn't be putting a Cossie in the back unless he thought it was a decent lump - Here's hoping Williams can at the very least maintain their form.

[I am evil Homer]

Rubbish...Head has no idea what sort of unit Cosworth will produce, they probably were cheaper than Renault. All but resigns Williams to also-ran status closer to STR than points challengers I think, unless they create a truly magical chassis...

[Sonic]

Rubbish...Head has no idea what sort of unit Cosworth will produce, they probably were cheaper than Renault. All but resigns Williams to also-ran status closer to STR than points challengers I think, unless they create a truly magical chassis...

This isn't pin the tail on the donkey. Head and Williams will know the relative strengths and weakness of each engine. And yes, cost will be a factor but not the only one.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

It would have been nice to see the Williams Renault combination back in F1

[DexDexter]

It would have been nice to see the Williams Renault combination back in F1

Yep, I think this Cosworth move is stupid. Renault would have been a good partner for Williams. And what if they suddenly get rid of the freeze? Cosworth will at sea in no time.

[truefan72]

just took a step backwards IMO

there was nothing wrong with the toyota engines and I don't recall a single retirement from an engine blowup at williams. Their problem is their useless low downforce aero package thet rendered them uncompetitive for a 3rd of the races, coupled with some poor race day decision making and somehow not being able to take advantage of their clear DD advantage at the beginning of the year.

toyota may be supplying RBR next year, who seem to want out of another great engine the Renault.

I'm not sure what Williams are doing, if they are trying to look favorable tot eh FIA or something, which is absurd since Mosley and his regime are gone at the end of this month.

[ArrowsFA1]

I thought this was interesting:

Sources claim that one of the key attractions for Cosworth is the fact that the engine supplier will be able to re-tune its power unit until early next year - something no other manufacturer is able to do because of F1's engine freeze. The tweaks could help ensure Cosworth's engine is competitive throughout 2010.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of an engine freeze, this engine choice might just end up being a good one for Williams.

[veeten]

Well, consider that most of the 'big names' have either cut back or reduced their overall F1 efforts, it seems that Williams had no other option than Cosworth.
Mercedes & Ferrari aren't looking to supply the entire grid, BMW has gone t!ts-up, and Renault & Toyota aren't going to be making any new deals in the not-to-distant future, Cosworth seems to be the 'supplier of last resort'.

With the whole 'cost cutting' craze going about, and the lack of major sponsorship for teams to afford more expensive engine deals, Cosworth will be the choice for those coming in or cutting back, unless there is a willingness to involve more independent builders or manufacturers to 'step up' and become powertrain suppliers.

[DexDexter]

Well, consider that most of the 'big names' have either cut back or reduced their overall F1 efforts, it seems that Williams had no other option than Cosworth.
Mercedes & Ferrari aren't looking to supply the entire grid, BMW has gone t!ts-up, and Renault & Toyota aren't going to be making any new deals in the not-to-distant future, Cosworth seems to be the 'supplier of last resort'.

With the whole 'cost cutting' craze going about, and the lack of major sponsorship for teams to afford more expensive engine deals, Cosworth will be the choice for those coming in or cutting back, unless there is a willingness to involve more independent builders or manufacturers to 'step up' and become powertrain suppliers.

They had a contract with Toyota which they broke...so..

[christophulus]

Apparently (http://grandprixinsider.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/williams-barrichello-cosworth/) Williams were offered a preferential development deal with Cosworth - whatever that means. Maybe the engine will be tuned more to suit the Williams car than the other new teams - and it's a benefit for Cosworth because they can start testing sooner than waiting for the new teams to build their cars.

It's a sensible choice, mainly because the FIA will go to great lengths to ensure the new teams are kept competitive, and as a by-product Williams end up with a progressively stronger engine.

Plus, Cosworth are independent. Apparently (http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/movements-on-the-driver-market/) Renault were stalling on a deal because both teams were interested in Kubica, so Renault were allegedly using the engine as leverage to make sure Williams didn't sign him up.

[UltimateDanGTR]

interesting. Williams' season next year just got unpredicatble, more so than we previously thought. Either the cossie will be a complete lump and stay like that, or their development thing will be used to their advantage, not to mention lotus', campos' and manors as well.

[Malbec]

This isn't pin the tail on the donkey. Head and Williams will know the relative strengths and weakness of each engine. And yes, cost will be a factor but not the only one.

I doubt very much that Cosworth could narrow the gap to the top engine makers and close four years worth of development with the resources they have, especially since their last engines were not that competitive. The power gains Mercedes and Ferrari especially have made even with the engine freeze are quite impressive.

Cosworth aren't going to develop the engine on charity money, they'll calculate what profit they can make from the engine deals and tailor their development investment to suit. Given that the Cosworth engine deals are supposed to be cheap in line with the FIA engine cost proposals that isn't going to be a large amount of money. Manufacturer backed teams on the other hand....

Williams are in a poor position financially, I hope they aren't choosing this engine out of desperation.

[truefan72]

to be honest, if I were to rank the engines right now in terms of quality it would be:

#1 Mercedes
#2 Renault
#3 Toyota
#4 Ferrari
#5 BMW

whatever deal Williams are getting with cosworth is going to challenged by the other teams, engine suppliers and new entrants who will be now getting a diminisehd product to the benefit of williams. Also especially if rumors are true and the fia is going to do the ridiculous thing of asking Mercedes to tune down the engine.

It is another sad day in F1 where now the FIA is looking to create artificial parity to the detriment of the sport.

If they just got rid of that engine freeze nonse4sne and allowed teams to develop what they want, you would see a natural parity come to place without all this nonsense.

[LiamM]

If all the teams have agreed for to this 'cost cap' then we don't need an engine freeze.

Teams can have 1 of 3 things:
1. an amazing engine and an aerodynamically limited car
2. amazing aerodynamics and a poor engine
3. a mediorce engine and aero

[Easy Drifter]

Cosworth have basically had a year to work on the engine and still have more time. I do not think any of us have a clue as to what kind of power they are getting.
What the FIA do regarding rules may go in a new direction after Fri. depending on the results of the election.
If it is Ari I expect considerably less rule changes without proper consultation.

[truefan72]

Cosworth have basically had a year to work on the engine and still have more time. I do not think any of us have a clue as to what kind of power they are getting.
What the FIA do regarding rules may go in a new direction after Fri. depending on the results of the election.
If it is Ari I expect considerably less rule changes without proper consultation.

no matter what they do , on its own the engine will not be as good as the mercedes, renault toyota or ferrari. And if the FIA chooses to make them more powerful, then the teams will protest. This is not F1 to limit the capabilities of some while promoting others, especially ones that the FIA have aligned themselves with in a feeble attempt to create a single engine supplier mickey mouse series.

If history is any indication then the cosworth will be what it always is. A serviceable engine, with many reliability issues that is no match to the top 4.

[Valve Bounce]

WilliamsF1 just lowered the chance of them attracting high rank drivers considerably.

BANG!! Whoosh!! :eek:
"Ah! shyte!!" :(

[Mark]

Apparently (http://grandprixinsider.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/williams-barrichello-cosworth/) Williams were offered a preferential development deal with Cosworth - whatever that means.

Ah the gold support package. 24x7 telephone support to a hotline in India plus engineers guaranteed on site within 3 working days.

[CNR]

am i wrong or will an engine running in 10 to 12 cars in testing
come up the the standard of other engine suppliers quite quick
just hope that it dose not end up like 1980



Williams-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2303.html)Ligier-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2305.html)Brabham-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2304.html)http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2306.htmlLotus-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2307.html)Tyrrell-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2310.html)Arrows-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2308.html)Fittipaldi-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2309.html)McLaren-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2311.html)http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2312.htmlhttp://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2313.htmlATS-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2315.html)Ensign-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2317.html)Osella-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2314.html)Shadow-Ford (http://www.formula1.com/results/team/1980/2316.html)

[I am evil Homer]

Ah the gold support package. 24x7 telephone support to a hotline in India plus engineers guaranteed on site within 3 working days.

Yep....they'll even cover any blocked drainage issues should they arise. No surprise that it was down to money but I feel Williams are going to struggle next season.

[ioan]

Bye Bye Williams! :wave:

They just decided that they don't want to win anything in the near future.


Rubbish...Head has no idea what sort of unit Cosworth will produce, they probably were cheaper than Renault. All but resigns Williams to also-ran status closer to STR than points challengers I think, unless they create a truly magical chassis...

Exactly, and Williams didn't create a great chassis since 1997.

[ioan]

They had a contract with Toyota which they broke...so..

Exactly. They had their hand firmly on a good engine and chose to go with something that will probably turn out to be a dud, again.

[Robinho]

the article says Red Bull are considering the Cosworth if they don't get Merc, and they've got cash to burn, so they must know something? maybe its not all bad

[Big Ben]

I hope they'll finish last. I think they are the most despicable team on the grid. First they quit FOTA when it fits their own interest, they decide to use kers against the decision of fota to abandon it for next year, now they oppose a 14th grid. I hope this engine will blow every GP.

[ioan]

I hope they'll finish last. I think they are the most despicable team on the grid. First they quit FOTA when it fits their own interest, they decide to use kers against the decision of fota to abandon it for next year, now they oppose a 14th grid. I hope this engine will blow every GP.

^^What he said!

[ratonmacias]

i dont care how good the toyota engine was. its useless when you are forced to use nakajima as a 2nd driver. he has been outscored in a proportion that is truly larming by rosberg.

i prefer an enginer that might not be as good but being able to run 2 drivers not a driver and a half.

and you can bet your ass that williams wont be last next year.

i understand that everyone loves to hate williams the chin fanbois hate williams because they wouldnt let him test a 2009 car.

and the bmw fanbois hate them because they are not allowing a 14th slot on the grid but most of you are hypocrits because this is a bussines. would you allow a new partner in your bussines to get in for free effectively redducing your income to a point you might not be able to fulfill your commitments?

everybody says how williams is dissapearing and still honda and bmw are gone while williams is still competing.

[Josti]

the article says Red Bull are considering the Cosworth if they don't get Merc, and they've got cash to burn, so they must know something? maybe its not all bad

Red Bull had a pretty good debut year with Cosworth in 2005. Would make logic if they don't get the Merc engine. As for Williams, I think it's not so much the engine that makes the difference, it's the chassis. Cosworth is a reasonable choise for them.

[ioan]

i prefer an enginer that might not be as good but being able to run 2 drivers not a driver and a half.

I think this approach would, in 99.99% of cases, get them last place in the championship.

[LiamM]

Red Bull had a pretty good debut year with Cosworth in 2005. Would make logic if they don't get the Merc engine. As for Williams, I think it's not so much the engine that makes the difference, it's the chassis. Cosworth is a reasonable choise for them.

Red Bull can consider a deal with Cosworth all they like, doesn't mean anything. I considered buying a new Playstation at the weekend, but I didn't

[Big Ben]

i dont care how good the toyota engine was. its useless when you are forced to use nakajima as a 2nd driver. he has been outscored in a proportion that is truly larming by rosberg.

i prefer an enginer that might not be as good but being able to run 2 drivers not a driver and a half.

and you can bet your ass that williams wont be last next year.

i understand that everyone loves to hate williams the chin fanbois hate williams because they wouldnt let him test a 2009 car.

and the bmw fanbois hate them because they are not allowing a 14th slot on the grid but most of you are hypocrits because this is a bussines. would you allow a new partner in your bussines to get in for free effectively redducing your income to a point you might not be able to fulfill your commitments?

everybody says how williams is dissapearing and still honda and bmw are gone while williams is still competing.

I´m none of the above, I can´t stand the chin, I think bmw were quite pathetic the way they handled their last 2 seasons and the stupid way they left without securing a place for the team... but we have a team ready to be part of the championship and they are blocked because the Williams boys reached the conclusion it´s easier to keep them out then to build a faster car. That´s the reason they left FOTA, they didn´t mind fighting in crippled F1 as long as they got what they wanted.... but maybe you are right... and the government of India is right... and FA is right... F1 is not a sport, not anymore

[Powered by Cosworth]

Word on the street is Cosworth are in a big mess. They haven't employed any new staff since getting rid of just about everybody when they left f1. The Northampton base is like a ghost town, with nobody there having a clue what they're doing, there is hardly anybody there that has any experience with F1 whatsoever. They'd better try and re-hire all the old staff or they might run it from the US side.

[Oli_M]

I remember seeing, very recently, an advert on the Autosport Jobs site, listing a vast number of positions they were recruiting for.

Presumably there will be staff being laid off from the BMW engine department, as well as potentially Toyota and Renault downsizing since it looks like they will both loose their customer teams?

I can't imagine Williams would have signed up with Cosworth unless they were pretty sure everything was running well.........

[ClarkFan]

WilliamsF1 just lowered the chance of them attracting high rank drivers considerably.
Probably by something close to 100%.

I'm afraid that Williams is starting to look like the original Team Lotus at the end of 1993. :(

ClarkFan

[Valve Bounce]

Probably by something close to 100%.

I'm afraid that Williams is starting to look like the original Team Lotus at the end of 1993. :(

ClarkFan

God!! I hope you are wrong.

[Easy Drifter]

We have had umpteen posters saying the Cosworth engines are crap.
There has been only one poster who does appear to have some real knowledge.
I hope he is wrong.
In the meantime I am hoping that Cosworth have developed a reasonable engine.
An engine used several years ago could now be very viable with proper developmnt.
Being a very old fart I remember how much the DFV was developed.

[Roamy]

do the history
how many championships does cosworth have ??????
How many does Toyota have??

[Mark]

Poor Rubens :(

[CNR]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosworth


Since 2006 Cosworth has committed itself to engineering consultancy and component manufacture for an increasingly diverse customer base, including OEM automotive, aerospace, defence and aftermarket sectors. The company is AS9100 and ISO9001 accredited, therefore enabling it to operate in the most demanding and safety critical environments. Current publicised projects range from an 80cc diesel engine for unmanned aerial vehicles, through to an engineering partnership on one of the world's most powerful normally aspirated road car engines. Participation in world class competition continues, with hardware and consultancy support being applied to 2009 entrants in World Touring Car Championship, Formula One and a variety of GT and sportscar series.
A mainstay of the company's aftermarket product line is its Ford inline-4 Duratec (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Ford_Duratec_engine) program. Cosworth has broadened this range to supply complete high performance Subaru EJ25 (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine) engines and components for Subaru Impreza (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Subaru_Impreza), as well as components for Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution) and Nissan (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Nissan) vehicles with the VQ35 (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Nissan_VQ_engine) engine. The company is also a specialist piston supplier, designing and manufacturing forged pistons for road and race vehicles from vintage and classic era's through to leading edge designs for Superbike, World Touring Car, and Formula One.


will all teams run cosworth or could we see rebadged engines
Mitsubishi (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution)Nissan (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Nissan) Subaru (http://www.motorsportforums.com/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine) Ford ?

[Dave B]

Now officially confirmed:


Frank Williams has officially confirmed that his team will switch to Cosworth engines next year...

"We've finished our contract with Toyota and we've moved on to a British engine manufacturer Cosworth with whom we have won many world championships in the past," he said.

"They are 50 miles away from Williams which is very convenient. Besides we also like our independence. We will be not under the influence, not that Toyota ever bossed around, but we've just gone a private and independent route."

Full story: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79835

[ClarkFan]

do the history
how many championships does cosworth have ??????
How many does Toyota have??
Except that the company that produced the engines that won those championships doesn't exist any more. Duckworth is dead and Costin hasn't been involved with the company in a long time. The last seriously competitive engine they made was in 1994. Their 2006 engine started the season fast and unreliable, and ended the season slow and unreliable.

Toyota has been a serial underperformer as a team, but their engines have been decent. Not top tier, but reasonably competitive and reliable. The main handicap is the incomprehensible practice where Japanese manufacturers insisit including slow Japanese drivers with their engines (as Honda did with Nakajima's father with Lotus in 1987-88).

Barring some engineering miracle, Williams is in for a hard 2010. If this is a move made because they lack the money for other choices, the team is in a perilous position.

ClarkFan

[aryan]

The main handicap is the incomprehensible practice where Japanese manufacturers insisit including slow Japanese drivers with their engines (as Honda did with Nakajima's father with Lotus in 1987-88).



Seriously, that's enough of a handicap. No matter how decent the Toyota engine is (which it isn't), Rosberg has 34.5 points to Nakajima's 0. ZERO. Nil. Zilch. Nada.

Tell me again, how many points has Toyota cost Williams by their choice of second driver?

If Williams had had a very average driver in place of Nakajima, even a paid driver who would have scored half the number of points of Rosberg's, then Williams would now be challenging Toyota for 5th in the constructors. If they had had a driver of Rosberg's caliber, they would have the same number of points as McLaren and Ferrari, and would have been challenging them for the third place.

That's serious money to Williams. Running the Toyota engine was not an option anymore because of Nakajima. Pure and simple.

[harsha]

Nakajima alone is the reason why Toyota is ahead of Williams in the constructors championship

Had they had a driver who would have even scored `10 points...Williams would have been in a much better situation now

[Ranger]

Seriously, that's enough of a handicap. No matter how decent the Toyota engine is (which it isn't), Rosberg has 34.5 points to Nakajima's 0. ZERO. Nil. Zilch. Nada.

Tell me again, how many points has Toyota cost Williams by their choice of second driver?

If Williams had had a very average driver in place of Nakajima, even a paid driver who would have scored half the number of points of Rosberg's, then Williams would now be challenging Toyota for 5th in the constructors. If they had had a driver of Rosberg's caliber, they would have the same number of points as McLaren and Ferrari, and would have been challenging them for the third place.

That's serious money to Williams. Running the Toyota engine was not an option anymore because of Nakajima. Pure and simple.

Points well made.

But surely Williams could have got a proven, race-winning Renault or Mercedes engine if they tried?

I still can't understand the choice of Cosworth apart from sentimentality and the fact they live down the road.

[harsha]

Mercedes only decided to go down the customer route from this year onwards...maybe that was the reason why they couldn't get the customer engines earlier..and by the time Mercedes opened up this yearWilliams and Toyota already had a contract

[ClarkFan]

Seriously, that's enough of a handicap. No matter how decent the Toyota engine is (which it isn't), Rosberg has 34.5 points to Nakajima's 0. ZERO. Nil. Zilch. Nada.

Tell me again, how many points has Toyota cost Williams by their choice of second driver?

If Williams had had a very average driver in place of Nakajima, even a paid driver who would have scored half the number of points of Rosberg's, then Williams would now be challenging Toyota for 5th in the constructors. If they had had a driver of Rosberg's caliber, they would have the same number of points as McLaren and Ferrari, and would have been challenging them for the third place.

That's serious money to Williams. Running the Toyota engine was not an option anymore because of Nakajima. Pure and simple.
The problem is that with a Cosworth in 2010, both Williams' drivers may be close to that 0 mark.

Good engine + 1 driver forced on the team = 1 car possibly in the points.
Bad engine + 2 drivers of the team's choice = 0 cars in the points.

I can understand Williams' reluctance to take on Toyota's "pay" driver again. And I don't understand Toyota's insistence in putting one of their engines behind a slow driver - where is the positive advertising spin in that move? But if Frank & Co. can't afford Renault, Toyota + pay driver is probably > Cosworth + free driver choice.

And if Williams can't afford to pay Renault, that means the team is in very weak financial condition - like Lotus at the end of 1993.

ClarkFan

[christophulus]

I still can't see why people assume the Cosworth is going to be so bad next year! The FIA will give exemptions here and there to make it more competitive/reliable, if only to give a two-fingered salute to FOTA.

Besides, the Renault engine hasn't been up to much this year, and Red Bull seem desperate to get rid of it for 2010. Plus Toyota might be leaving F1 and signing a deal with Cosworth now, and working it into the car design is better than waiting to see what happens.

[Wasted Talent]

Nakajima alone is the reason why Toyota is ahead of Williams in the constructors championship

Had they had a driver who would have even scored `10 points...Williams would have been in a much better situation now

Toyota's clever plan worked then, huh .... :) :)

WT

[aryan]

And if Williams can't afford to pay Renault, that means the team is in very weak financial condition - like Lotus at the end of 1993.


I think you are misreading the situation.

Here is what James Allen thinks:

"[These] decisions show that Williams is pointing forwards with confidence. This weekend they have announced a strategic tie up here in the Middle East with the Qatar Science and Technology Park, where Williams will establish a Williams Technology Centre.

Two F1 related R&D programmes will be carried out there; one into the flywheel energy regeneration system they have been working on for a couple of years now, the other developing a simulator for race and road use. Williams and QSTP will jointly fund the centre and with share commercial revenues. It underlines the assertion I’ve been making for some time that Williams is a team of the future."
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2009/10/williams-announces-cosworth-deal-driver-news-to-follow/

A team which is struggling to pay for its engines will not enter into a strategic alliance to build and fund a major R&D centre. It is quite clear to me that Williams chose Cosworth in preference to both, Toyota and Renault. Maybe they know something about the cossie that you and I don't?

JA also says:

"...as a new engine, the technical team at Cosworth are allowed to continue developing the engine until March 1 next year, which gives them a lot of time to improve the product. Existing F1 engines are frozen.

Although reliability is unproven and there is no track testing allowed, the team at Cosworth has been supplemented recently by many engineers returning from other engine programmes, such as Mercedes’ in Brixworth. "

[ClarkFan]

I think you are misreading the situation.

Here is what James Allen thinks:

"[These] decisions show that Williams is pointing forwards with confidence. This weekend they have announced a strategic tie up here in the Middle East with the Qatar Science and Technology Park, where Williams will establish a Williams Technology Centre.

Two F1 related R&D programmes will be carried out there; one into the flywheel energy regeneration system they have been working on for a couple of years now, the other developing a simulator for race and road use. Williams and QSTP will jointly fund the centre and with share commercial revenues. It underlines the assertion I’ve been making for some time that Williams is a team of the future."
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2009/10/williams-announces-cosworth-deal-driver-news-to-follow/

A team which is struggling to pay for its engines will not enter into a strategic alliance to build and fund a major R&D centre. It is quite clear to me that Williams chose Cosworth in preference to both, Toyota and Renault. Maybe they know something about the cossie that you and I don't?

JA also says:

"...as a new engine, the technical team at Cosworth are allowed to continue developing the engine until March 1 next year, which gives them a lot of time to improve the product. Existing F1 engines are frozen.

Although reliability is unproven and there is no track testing allowed, the team at Cosworth has been supplemented recently by many engineers returning from other engine programmes, such as Mercedes’ in Brixworth. "
Color me sceptical on the deeper meaning of the anouncements Allen passes on.

Did Williams actually put any money in the center in Quatar? Or is their presence government funded to seed a new commercial development in a very difficult market for attaining new tenants? The programs mentioned are ones Williams was working on already - the new R&D center would only require some work stations, some cubicle space and an Internet connection. (Much like posting on this forum! ;) )

And the technical team at Cosworth is so new they are still looking for their desks. After they find them, that new team has 4 months to catch up on 3 years worth of F1 engine developments, including reliability requirements that the 2006 Cosworth engines would have failed.

ClarkFan

[ioan]

I think you are misreading the situation.

Here is what James Allen thinks:

"[These] decisions show that Williams is pointing forwards with confidence. This weekend they have announced a strategic tie up here in the Middle East with the Qatar Science and Technology Park, where Williams will establish a Williams Technology Centre.

Honestly how good is the "Qatar Science and Technology Park" when compared with the European, Japanese and American scientific excellence centers?
It sounds good as a marketing move but that's all.

[veeten]

Only that Qatar doesn't have to go round begging for money. They're rolling in it from all of their Oil/Natural Gas production so they can afford to bring Williams in as a partner and not ask them for any money.

[ioan]

Only that Qatar doesn't have to go round begging for money. They're rolling in it from all of their Oil/Natural Gas production so they can afford to bring Williams in as a partner and not ask them for any money.

Money can't buy wisdom and knowledge to the extent needed to rival the established research centers.

[ClarkFan]

Money can't buy wisdom and knowledge to the extent needed to rival the established research centers.
But in their current financial state, it may be able to rent WilliamsF1! ;)

ClarkFan