Williams and Mazepin: Team Takeover An Option?

Over the course of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, reports began to circulate claiming that Dmitry Mazepin had been in talks with Williams about potentially buying the team. The rumour has since been denied, but could selling up be a viable option to help sustain the teams' future?

This video was recorded on Thursday, April 18th at 2pm BST. Since that recording, Mazepin's company have denied the rumours:

Original source material (English):

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This video was recorded on Thursday, April 18th at 2pm BST. Since that recording, Mazepin's company have denied the rumours:

Original source material (English):

Just a reminder that I am away until Monday and so won't be able to keep a close eye on the comments section. Will catch up when I'm back.

[TroystonB]

They need a large manufacturer to purchase a large stake in the team. At the same time retaining the Williams name. Something like they did with BMW.

[austinv]

I'm going to make a prediction, William's will either be sold and rebranded or closed within 3 years. This saddens me.

[DominoEffect]

How to fix Williams:-
1) Get rid of Claire Williams.

[freddiebarry]

It's sad that they couldn't keep the momentum from 2014 and 2015 going. Hope they can survive until 2021 while restructuring effectively enough to be competitive.

[WolfestoneManor]

That Williams livery has grown on me. Looking forward to next race and hopefully the return of Sunday Live! Enjoy your weekend Sean.

[sebastiangieger]

Tbf to Mazepin, if you look at his achievements so far, him getting an F1 seat wouldn't be the most shocking thing. Many drivers who came to F1 had much less than a 2nd place in the GP3 championship to their name.

[shanearchbold]

There needs to be several changes that need to happen.
1. Complete restructuring from the top. The last time Williams was successful was when toto wolf was a shareholder. If claire is still to be in charge then she needs an advisor who has turned teams around to
Mentor her!
2. Technical design.
Unless you have someone as brilliant as Rory Byrne or Adrian newey calling the shots then you are going to have to use the group approach which was used the last time they were successful. Each dept meets together discussing the regs and then contribute from
Their depts toward the main design starting with mechanical grip
As the basis. Williams has technical talent but are
Lacking leadership.
3. Preserve the past but don't cling to it. The f1 model has changed and dreaming about the days of mansell, senna, Jones and rosberg are great as talking points but not when your team is fed last 2 years running.
Love in the present, improvise, adapt and overcome!

[DanielLearmouth]

I've been seeing for the last few months a lot of suggestions that Williams will be gone by the 2021 reset or something along those lines.

The way I see it, that's not gonna happen. Whilst Williams aren't as big as McLaren, considering Williams don't sell their own cars whilst McLaren do and don't make as much money year on year, let's not pretend that Williams don't have the money. Hell, they ended last year with a profit (even though this current course might see them struggle to break even at best). They have their fingers in a fair few engineering pies, and they've been around for long enough to know what they're doing to keep afloat, and will do so for a while past the coming reset.
The problem, however, is that management is a serious problem. Names like Lotus, Brabham, March and so on fell away because their management wasn't able to keep up with the changing tides. If it can affect Lotus - a name that is synonymous with Formula One - then it can affect anyone, and Williams need to buck up their ideas. They need to recognise that the course they're running on is not a positive one. They're keeping afloat, but they're doing so by running at the back and keeping out of everyone's way.

Jacques Villeneuve - inflammatory as he may be at times - was quoted recently as having said “Williams is no longer a racing team. It’s a public entity that must report at the end of the year, and all they have to do is make a profit, which they have done. So they are fine. But if the company made $16 million in 2018, it is because not enough was spent on the racing team. The president does not want to win in F1, he just wants to make sure he makes the most for the shareholders. That’s all that matters now."
And for once, he's not wrong. Williams are a business that report to their shareholders. So long as they're making money, nobody really cares. The way we're looking at it, though, Claire Williams is a businesswoman, not a team leader. She's keeping the team afloat, but that's not gonna be enough to keep us lot happy and quiet.

[jeremyjohnson]

Thank God they are bringing in Patrick Head. I think you perhaps underestimate just what he can do to fix the problems with the car. That man could take one look at the design and tell you what's inherently wrong, he's that experienced and good.

[FormulaTurismo]

I have said it before and I will say it again. Claire has got to go. I tried to defend her but all the problems with the team keep coming back to her.

The lack of magement
Using pay drivers
Interfering with the enginers desinging the car
More focused on gaining money than performing well.

I may sound harsh but she is the root of all their problems.

[supertouring]

Another great video. You're my first port of call for all F1 news/opinion now.

[kirill]

Rather a B-Team with 2 pay drivers than 1.3 behind your nearest competitor

[aftabuddinshaikh]

Claire Should step down after continuously underperforming. I can understand she want to keep the team which her father started, but in F1 people will ultimately see your and the teams performance. Williams was strong due to Sir William was strong with the technical aspect of the sport. Its time she need to do self introspection and finally handover the leadership to someone else. Any guesses guys?

[amnaah]

It worries me as I think Williams may reach the 107% rule that they'll be to slow to compete of it but it hasn't happened in a couple of years HRT or Catherham I think where the last team not allowed race w it
Pretty much what it is, is that you are not allowed race if in Q1 you are over 107% slower than the fastest time unless it comes under certain circumstances like changing weather

[reece]

I dont mind if you dont upload until tuesday because your content is that good i just watch your videos over and over

[SamC-bgvn]

Williams, in reality, need to become a Mercedes B Team in the short term future, but due to sentimental reasons from the Williams family they never will

[Ziyaggy]

Their best option would be to entice a new Manufacturer like Porsche or Audi to partner and become an official Manufacturer team.

[NewReflex]

Claire Williams needs to step down or aside for the team to go forward whatever option the team follows

[FormulaOneFan]

Will never happen. The William's are a stubborn bunch. They've even turned down an offer from Mercedes to become their 'B team'.