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From the media coverage it seems to be snow-balling...

Patrick Head
Andrew Parr
Mark Gillian (Although not as significant but was crucial in 2012's return to race winning)

and now rumours about Toto Wolff?

It seems some big names are leaving Williams. Is it all just coincidence or could it be linked? It was mentioned at times that both Parr and Wolff were names to replace Frank, but now it seems not.

Speculation but I don't think most are directly linked as such, but if Williams were fighting at the front of a healthier, happier sport I'm not sure all these departures would have taken place.

I buy Head's reason for stepping back, it was on the cards for a long time and the stock market float effectively confirmed what was about to happen. It seems odd that Wolff should suddenly be looking elsewhere so recently after upping his commitment, so I can believe it's just an offer he wasn't expecting but has decided to jump at. It's no secret Parr's departure was down to a personality clash with Bernie, perhaps extenuated by a lack of support due to everyone hating him. Gillan and also Sam Michael I'm not sure about. The exit of the former was a big surprise, the latter less so but there's still a story to be told there. Imagine if it were a team like Force India or Sauber who had endured a spell like this, we'd be saying they're about to collapse.

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Klaus Kinski: making me question my heroes since January 2013

Wolff owns 49% of the Mercedes DTM team HWA. I think that was one of the main reasons for the move.

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Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes

Everyone hating him?

First I've heard that any reading material to recommend?

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Disclaimer: The above post maybe tongue in cheek.

"I thought I'd get your theories, mock them, then embrace my own. The usual."

Wolff has gone to Mercedes, but he still retains his Williams shares.

So now the management structure at Mercedes is Brawn/Lauda/Wolff.

Sounds like big money talks.

It would be ironic if Wolff did completely pull out to the ruin of Williams. That would be both Williams's teams ended by a man called Wolf/Wolff.

I hope it is just however Toto remaining a silent partner and/or securing Merc power. FI will switch to Ferrari if they're still around and Sauber maybe even pick up some spare Renaults (unless everything VW related did come true for them).

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"We can not drive slower, just to make the races more exciting." Alain Prost

And no Mention of Fry.

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Disclaimer: The above post maybe tongue in cheek.

"I thought I'd get your theories, mock them, then embrace my own. The usual."

Williams may benefit from a refurbishment in their management. They've got a bit stale in development and team management overall.

If that comment was made a year ago, it might be valid. Actually, Williams won an award for superior management in Formula One. The company restructured the management over a year ago, they have turned the corner, and as long as the money lasts, should improve.

Mercedes made Wolff an offer he could not refuse.

funny. just finished reading last months F1 Racing all about Williams and all Wolffs plans etc, i turn on BBC website and hes gone

Man, I totally pictured a horse head in bed scene

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My Top 5 drivers of all times:
1) Prost/ Schumacher
3) Fangio
4) Lauda
5) Brabham

if you don't like it, too bad! There's a reason why it says "My Top 5"

Man, I totally pictured a Tesco burger....

On another note, it just seems strange that there are such a large amount of top end changes.......and Frank can't go on forever.....

It must be a worry for frank, wolff was effectively team principle most of last year and exec also, he gave so much more to Williams than just money his management over race weekends seemed top notch for someone so new to that position in f1. There seems to be a void now that frank will have to fill again until a trusted replacement can be found, he was looking increasingly more frail whenever i saw him last year i really don't think he has much left in him to give

That big money's bought him 30% of the team! Mercedes have 60% and Lauda has just bought the other 10%.

Is there precedent for someone owning a substantial stake in two unrelated F1 teams (i.e. not a connected setup like RB/STR)?

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Klaus Kinski: making me question my heroes since January 2013

I know it's unlikely, but I'm hoping it's just the start of a Williams Mercedes collaboration... it might give me my dream of Hamilton in a Williams car working for Brawn and Sir Frank. I have a feeling white blue and silver would look nice too. Ditch the Mercedes green and just add a nice shiny silver to the Williams livery and you're onto a winner. Well, I'm onto a winner, it's a beautiful thought for me...

Hey, we can dream.

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"You are the universe expressing itself as a Human for a little while..."

I fell victim to hyperbole there, 'everyone' and 'hate' are probably a bit extreme. But he was supposedly not popular at some levels within the team, I'm only going on occasional comments from journalists and the like. I specifically remember Nigel Roebuck in Motor Sport saying something about him lacking charm and throwing his weight around immediately upon taking a position of authority at Williams. Obviously there was some negative comment about him not being a racer but I got the impression from journos that people just found him a bit unpleasant.

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Klaus Kinski: making me question my heroes since January 2013

His future as CEO is "being decided".

Interesting. I only ever heard of the Bernie dislike.

Even though he didn't have a motorsport background. He obviously did something right.

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Disclaimer: The above post maybe tongue in cheek.

"I thought I'd get your theories, mock them, then embrace my own. The usual."

I thought Brawn still owned a percentage too?

As for stakes in more than one team, I recall Flavio Briatore bought Ligier in 1994 for their Renault engines to use at Benetton (not sure what, if any, stake he had at the latter at the time other than his role there). While owning Ligier he bought a share in Minardi hoping to flip it for a quick profit to BAR, but in the end he sold it back to Giancarlo Minardi. Prost bought Ligier in 1997.

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"We can not drive slower, just to make the races more exciting." Alain Prost

Did Lauda buy his?

I read somewhere it was a freebie.

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Disclaimer: The above post maybe tongue in cheek.

"I thought I'd get your theories, mock them, then embrace my own. The usual."

Thread is about Williams!! Lets leave the merc stuff alone and consider the departures rather than where they are going!

Well, it's been 2 weeks now, so...any idea how would the empty positions be filled?

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Olivier Panis fan.
...and also Jenson Button fan.