The Hot Rod or Hot Dog mid-season review - Williams
- Published on Aug 23rd, 2011 by Benson JammichelloWilliams
- Best Finish: 9th (Barrichello, Monaco and Canada)
- Points Scored: 4 (FOUR)
- Championship position: 9th
We said in the Mercedes review that it wasn't the season they would have hoped for. If that was true for them, then it's definitely true for Williams. If two words were to sum up their season it would probably be "oh dear".
Last season the team got 69 points. This season they have four. It's no wonder heads have rolled behind the scenes. However, should the drivers also take some responsibility? Look down, dear reader, and see what we think.
Status: Sleeping Dogs
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Barrichello used to drive for teams competing at the top end of the sport. We're thinking Ferrari and Brawn. Now he drives for Williams. If you'd said those words 15 years ago, you'd have been laughed out of the room. Of course Williams are a top team, people would have said. Well, not now and not for a while.
His average qualifying position is just a smidge over 14.5, which doesn't compare favourably to Maldonado's 13ish and he's 6-5 behind in the head-to-head battle. And we at Badger don't think that highly of the petro-fuelled Venezuelan, so it doesn't bode well for the Brazilian.
Then, however, we turn to the races and that's where Barrichello really earns his keep. In the process of thrashing Maldonado 9-2 in the head to head battle he's got an average finishing position of 12.5 and two top ten finishes. There's life in the old dog yet.
These are Barrichello's last days in F1; does he really want to be slogging around at the back? Does he really? Does a graceful retirement beckon at the end of the season?
Also, in the BEST ANAGRAM SO FAR, he comes out as "races rubber on hill." There is a god.
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Maldonado. Where to start? His star is still being polished by Jimmy von Weeks, but the rest of us don't think he's much cop. He's only gained places from qualifying to the race in one race this season. Yep, that's right, ONE race. If this had been written before the Hungarian GP, then it would have been none. No races. Nada. Zip. That's not the mark of someone who's in F1 for the long haul.
His average finishing position is 16.25. Not great, is it? Truthfully, we wouldn't really want to tell him that (he's a scary looking bloke, isn't he?), but if goodness, light, justice and honour prevail then Nico Hulkenberg should be in for a quick return to the F1 fold. Pastor really can't cut it.
Unfortunately, Pastor can't match his team mate in the anagram stakes either, given he comes out as "a Dodo's patrolman". Does he spend his spare time providing security for extinct animals? We certainly wouldn't mess with him (or his dodos).
Badger's Best: Barrichello
Comments and Discussion
Ben, I just think Maldonado's been okay, has shunted less than initially expected and beaten Rubens in qualy a few times. I'm yet to get his face tattooed on my back, his back tattooed on my face or any similarly mental gesture.
what a less than professional way to talk about last years GP2 winner by a huge margin. keep in mind that he is driving in a horrible car that not even barrichelo seems to be able to make anything with it. plus its only his first season, and please dont compare him with any of the other newcomers, since they all have better cars than him by far......
please next time keep your opinions professional by talking objectively and not just talking trash because you particularly liked Niko Hulkenberg better. keep in mind your writing for a news website, not for your personal blog.
Hi Blad, sorry to hear you're upset about the comments on Pastor, but it has to be said that the facts mentioned are indeed true - he has only finished one race this season in a position higher than which he qualified.
In terms of being professional, we're always professional here at Badger. We also aim to ensure our articles are fun, entertaining and engaging while being informative and based on fact (or opinion) - and this article is exactly that. We bill ourselves as a 'webzine' - i.e. a magazine you read on the web - if by professional you mean dull, boring and just facts/stats or what have you then read something like Pit Pass (we're not saying PP isn't good, it's just not our thing)
Maldonado scares me
Oi, I'm more of a lurker than a poster on here, but, I have to say, its Badgers site, they can post what they like in an opinion piece. Nobody is forcing you to read it! Its called an opinion piece for a reason. Just because they disagree with you, doesn't make them wrong. If you think you can do better, start up an alternative!
I've got to agree with everyone here, if you want to moan about someones articles being biased go comment on planetf1...the amount of bile and garbage that gets posted on there after every article is right up your street.
It's someones opinion not gospel, grow up and accept that not everyone agrees with you.
Problem is, you're not taking into account performance and only results. See, he was on his way of getting 6th place in monaco (not an easy track) until the crash with Hamilton. And he has been way closer if not faster than rubens, something that Hulkemberg couldn't do (and he enjoyed a better williams).
I agree that the facts about his season are right and that he can improve his driving, but i dont agree on making fun of someone on his looks or saying that his season is horrible, remember that at the only track that all that matters is the driver "MONACO" he managed to get the car into the points, that is until the all mighty Hamilton rammed him......... i also agree that Badger is one of the easiest websites to read because you make it interesting and fun to read, but again, you can find a way to do that without making fun of someones look!
plus, isnt it always fun to have someone who dont agree with what you have to say? it would be a dull world if everybody agreed with everyone else and without discussions.....