Something struck me today, and it’s kinda cool.
So we all know the Kimi Raikkonen to Williams rumours for 2012, right? Of course we do. The thing is though, they are gathering pace with every passing week. The latest rumour is that Sir Frank Williams has spent the last few weeks in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, trying to drum up enough cash to lure the 2007 World Champion back to the sport.
Anyway, here’s where it gets cool.
It is rumoured that Williams, along with finding some finance from the Qatar National Bank, is trying to get a few old sponsors back on board… namely Saudia, Albilad and TAG.
This year, Williams is running a pretty mega livery, in homage to the Rothmans livery of the mid 1990s.
Pastor Maldonado : 2011 Japanese Grand Prix
c/o www.sutton-images.com
Damon Hill : 1994 Portuguese Grand Prix
c/o www.sutton-images.com
What chances the 2012 Williams features a Green and White livery, with the old boys back on the sidepods?
And you know the even cooler thing? Think back to this photo… 1982. 2012 will be the 30th anniversary of Keke Rosberg, the Flying Finn, taking the title for Team Willie. A mega fast Finn? In a Green and White Williams? Thirty years on?
It’s too tasty, isn’t it?
Keke Rosberg : 1982 Brazilian Grand Prix
c/o www.sutton-images.com
Only problem with that is that TAG have owned shares in McLaren for a couple of decades now.
Hi Will,
I think that given Renault are going to be involved I wouldn’t be surprised to see a splash of yellow in the livery, so I’d quite to see this livery reprised…
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Mansell_-_Williams_1985.jpg
James
VERY COOL!
That would be too good. The pieces are slowly being put into place for a recovery. Grew up watching Williams win, and would really love to see a resurgence..
Let’s just hope the excited Kimi turns up and not the one that lacks drive. He needs to lead that team.
Maybe even a bin Laden advert also?
Haha. There speaks someone who knows their F1 history.
That’s all very nice. But if we look at the reality Kimi Raikkonen won’t be motivated by a car that’s incapable of scoring a podium, he probably knows it too. Also he probably understands that the likelihood of getting a podium-worthy machine from Williams as early as 2012 is close to zero regardless of the sponsorship.
Meanwhile another French car company would really like him to win the 2012 World Endurance Championship title for them. And they are sure to provide their drivers with a front running car again, as they have done every year since 2007, The salary isn’t going to bad either.
Now why would Raikkonen want to battle with Toro Rosso and Force India for an odd point? Because of the livery?
Hmmm. Tell me where I said Kimi was moving to Williams because of the livery? Oh that’s right, I didn’t. I said IF he did move and IF Williams got hold of the sponsors they are APPARENTLY after then the tie in could be cool.
Fact is the F1 rumour mill in the paddock in which I work says the deal is already done. It could be one big ruse but who knows?
As things look right now Kimi and Williams in 2012 is on. As for the livery, it was only a bit of fun. Jeeeeeez!
I wasn’t really arguing about the livery. Personally I’m hoping to see the white-blue-yellow one again. I just pointed out that logically there is no point for Kimi to join Williams, unfortunately. At best Williams can hope of being marginally more competitive next year, and I’m surprised that many people seem to think that signing some Asian sponsors and Kimi Raikkonen will automatically make Williams a front-running team. Unfortunately their next chance of really moving up the grid will come with next big regulation change. So KR is about to chose between a big fat bird in hand and two in a bush that are yet to hatch.
Really Will? So the deal is already done, fingers crossed. Well as a KR fan, I don’t really care what he’d drive and what team. As long as he can spark and prove that he is fast then the fans will cheer the team up.
Will, from what I´ve heard, Kimi already signed the deal back when he visited the Wiliams factory, just to “say hi”.
Never been a fan of him, I do think that he could bring some excitement into it.