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Why Williams - Are they just unlucky  ?  

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Williams have just 2 points in the Constructors' Championship yet they have shown everyone that they can win races. 3 times in the last 3 races, a Williams was hit from behind. One of those times, Juan Pablo Montoya was robbed of a potential win in only his 3rd race. That must have been very disappointing. 

Ralf Schumacher was also hit from behind in 2 of the 3 races so far. Jacques Villeneuve crashed into him in Australia while Rubens Barrichello did the same in Brazil.

Under normal racing conditions, the incidents of such nature are rare and it is something that we don't see regularly in Formula 1. In fact the only one that springs to mind was the Senna - Mansell crash in Adelaide '92. Sure we saw Michael Schumacher crash into David Coulthard at Spa '98 and Jacques Villeneuve crashing into Ralf Schumacher in Montreal last year but they were under wet conditions.

Could there be another reason other than just pure bad luck. Could they be braking slightly earlier than the rest and catching the driver behind off guard. Is the Michelin tyre contributing to the problem ?. Patrick Head said following Ralf's accident in Australia "I think it was fairly well known that the Michelin tyres had a bit of a dip in them in their early laps".
Could it even be something more bizarre ? After all getting hit from behind 50% of the time is bizarre in itself! - What do you think ? Have Your Say   (What others are saying)

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What others are saying:

Regarding Dave's (Australia) comments, I would not go as far as saying that Montoya is possibly the next Senna. The reason I say that is because just the way there is not going to be another Pele for soccer, there is not going to be another Senna in F1. However, Montoya did a hell of a job in Brazil. Excellent, stunning manoeuvre overtaking Shummi. Just brilliant, and that showed that he's got a lot of courage (not to use the appropriate language), and is, without a doubt, in pursuit of a early championship! WAY TO GO, MONTOYA!
As for the the accident involving Rubens and Ralph, I think that Rubens did mess up a "little bit", but Ralph must've done something unpredictable, leaving no time for Rubens to react. But I guess we will never know the truth - Dan - Brazil 


I believe that bad luck has had a lot to do with what has transpired so far. The fact that they have fallen victim to the rear-end shunt inevitably means that folks will look for characteristics of the car/tyres that contribute to these accidents. Personally I cannot see any explanation that would still allow the Williams to run lap times comparable to Ferrari/McLaren.

Whilst I would like to see the team do well and am sure they will on low downforce circuits, I do not believe they will be as competitive where grip is more of a priority - Dunder - Hong Kong 


I think Montoya should have won the race, if it was not for the idiot that knocked him off, he would have won for sure in only his third race.  He is definitely the next Senna without a doubt - Dave - Australia 


I think the Williams folks are simply unlucky. Let's face it; they have a really great package this year. After the Interlagos race, I really started to think that both McLaren and Ferrari are a little far behind, engine-wise. Montoya successfully bypassed Schummi with a higher-loaded car, and on Michelin tyres... Ralf and Juan-Pablo seem in great shape; yet, nothing comes cheap for them: three races and no podiums, in spite of all that. I'm sure their time will come; maybe it will be Imola's time, who knows... Adrian - Romania 


The Williams have the fastest engine but on the other hand the car is not as reliable as the Ferrari or the McLaren. Juan Montoya is a fabulous driver and very fast indeed. The fact is that this is the first time for him in Formula 1 and he has to get used to the way you are supposed to use the brakes, the way you handle the car under pressured moments etc...
Ralf Schumacher has been unlucky in all the races he took part and his rage can be explained.

The Arrows did a good job and Jos will do his best at Imola.
Go Arrows!!!!!!!!!!! - Rob - Australia 


Montoya is a good driver and one day his turn to be world champ will come!! Look at the fabulous over taking he did at Brazil. Hopefully we will see Montoya in the red one day. So he can be our next Shumi!!! - Julzz - Australia 


The article is mistaken, Ralf has been hit from behind three times in three races, twice by Barrichello who incidentally also hit Frentzen from behind in Australia. I think there are various reasons for the incidents. Judging by where the Australian accident took place, Ralf may have braked earlier than expected. In the next two incidents with Barrichello, the gap between Ralf and the cars in front didn't seem to increase during braking seeming to indicate that he wasn't braking any harder or earlier than the cars in front of him (or behind for that matter). This also doesn't explain why Barrichello has hit the people in front of him in three straight races. Are we to assume that in Australia Frentzen just happened to brake early in front of Barrichello as well. Kind of coincidental, don't you think. The Montoya incident may be early braking. He was leading the race by a huge margin, and it was starting to spit with rain, the time when asphalt is the most slippery. Makes some sense that under those conditions he may have been trying to be extra careful. That still doesn't totally excuse Verstappen, he should know better not to pull in right behind someone on slippery track especially when you don't know exactly what the person in front is going to do. We also have to assume if there is some braking problem with the Williams or their tires that it would show up on a more consistent basis than it has and would be noticed by other drivers. I think a lot of it has to do with Barrichello trying too hard to prove himself at Ferrari especially since rumours of his demise are starting to circulate - Lawrence J - Canada


My feeling is the aerodynamics of the Williams is such that it may cause a wake behind the car that almost sucks the other car in!  - David B - UK


They have an excellent engine, cool pilots. But they brake too early. it's not their style of driving, but Michelin tyres - Jen S - Ukraine


What the hell is going on?????

Does anyone else suspect a 'conspiracy' (, for the last few years ,) of results versus real aptitude? - fintan - Ireland


What if something in the Williams brake design, either by accident or by intention, causes the brakes to "come on" very quickly when first applied?  Their brakes overall cannot be superior to the other teams, because we aren't seeing many banzai outbraking manoeuvres (with the notable exception of the Montoya/Schumacher pass!).  So perhaps there is some characteristic of the Williams brake system that provides extreme performance in the initial portion of the normal braking zone... Jeff R - USA



First of all, if are going faster in the straights then you have to brake a bit earlier than the slower ones, therefore the drivers behind, like Verstappen in brazil should have realized that instead of going back to his racing line once Montoya had lapped him causing this incredible accident that cost Juan Pablo a possible win. this also applies to Barrichello when he crashed with the rear of Ralf. He had plenty of space to brake or to see where Ralf was and he just kept going and going as if he was blind or if the Williams was not there. But I am sure that the tables will turn round, nothing lasts for ever, and that Juan Pablo will get his chances again to show everybody the talent he has - Oscar N - Venezuela.

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