F1 - Smedley to Williams from Ferrari

[TenEightyOne]

Rob Smedley (Massa's engineer at Ferrari) is moving to Williams. This time he'll oversee both cars rather than being Massa's race engineer. Source, BBC.

If I were Bottas I'd be feeling a little disappointed. Neither driver really has an automatic #1 status at the team but Smedley and Massa always seemed very close at Ferrari and I'm sure it's no coincidence that Smedley has ended up there. That's got to benefit Massa by osmosis at the very least.

There was probably no longer a place for Smedley at Ferrari in the long-term given the way their driver-allegiances work and his success in coaching Massa through bad times won't have been missed by Williams who are looking for a return to form after their worst year ever.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Just to let you know there is a thread dedicated to technical switches of staff as well as talking about other technical portions of F1.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Just to let you know there is a thread dedicated to technical switches of staff as well as talking about other technical portions of F1.

Thanks buddy, I'll look harder. Haven't seen anything on the first 5 pages, I'll keep going back

 

[TenEightyOne]

Mods, should this thread be merged with the Williams "My Eyes Hurt" thread, it probably goes more to the 'new' team under Pat Symonds but I can't find the technical staff thread that @LMSCorvetteGT2 refers to and the Williams-my-eyes-hurt thread is much more recently active. Or just kill this thread altogether if it's too out-of-place

 

[Hun200kmh]

I don't think there's a risk of Massa being given #1 status. For three reasons:

a) Massa, and I'm saying this because I like him, isn't a ruthless prima donna that by his own personality will make it happen. His "niceness" may always work against him, but that's the way he is.

b) Massa, however, is a seriously quick guy (when the stars align in his mind, and I hope they do this year) so whatever happens will be based on his speed alone. As it should be anyway.

c) Bottas is also seriously quick and Williams has no reason to create a #1 / #2 driver divide in the upper midfield (where they hope to be, if not better). Besides, it is not in their culture to do so, at least I don't remember it happening after the 1981 fiasco (Jones /Reutemann). Many here might not remember (or be born) when that happened, but I'm sure Sir Frank Williams didn't forget.

Of course all this could change if Williams becomes a victory contender and has one driver fighting for the WDC in the second half of the championship.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Thanks buddy, I'll look harder. Haven't seen anything on the first 5 pages, I'll keep going back

Here you go it was on the first page of the motorsports search https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/2014-f1-mechanics-aero-design-predictions-to-win-the-wcc-wdc-read-first-post.291499/

also read the first post to help you out.

I guess the Williams thread could work too since people may already be talking about it in there but I'm not sure, I only have enough time in the day most days to check my alerts.