[Steeroid]

With the news that HP have withdrawn as title sponsors for Williams, the team looks like it is likely to join the Minardis and Jordans in the not too distant future. The loss of BMW engines was bad enough, but the loss of a title sponsors also puts a cramp on what they can spend on as a replacement for BMW...

With one more team joining the non-manufacturer group, will Minardi, Jordan and Williams end up fighting for the smaller part of the sponsorship pie? If yes, wont it hasten the end of the either Minardi or Jordan since there isnt enough in that portion to sustain 3 teams?

[mclaren1885]

well i dont think there will be such a slump for the williams team that they will get into the bottom half of the grid to compete with the jordans and the minardis..well they have all the technologies at hand developed during the tie up with BMW and will continue to use them efficiently..one must not 4get that williams f1 dates back to as long i remember as a team that has performed consistently over a period of years so the amount of knowledge they have acquired over the years should see them in the middle half of the grid and not the bottom..its only a matter of fact before they find the required sponsers..

[Hatari]

the only thing they have that they can look forward to are toyota engines for 2007..
but what they really need is an engine partner like they had in BMW..
otherwise it'l start going downhill from now on..

and no jenson button too.. looks like he will prefer to sit out next yr rather than drive for williams

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by Hatari

the only thing they have that they can look forward to are toyota engines for 2007..

They're on Cosworth engines next year...or so we're told. Jordan is on Toyota, which means Williams will be running with Jordan's erstwhile partners.

If they continue this way, they will end up with the Minardis and Jordans.

[Mpower]

It was originally Compaq sponsorship, then after the merger they changed it to HP. HP probably never liked the idea.

also Budweiser sponsored them because of Montoya. Now with him gone the might withdraw too.

[amitverma]

Originally Posted by Hatari

the only thing they have that they can look forward to are toyota engines for 2007..
but what they really need is an engine partner like they had in BMW..
otherwise it'l start going downhill from now on..

and no jenson button too.. looks like he will prefer to sit out next yr rather than drive for williams

jenson button aint sitting out next year. honda bosses are busy to acquire him for the next season too. i think it was raceday, in which i heard a figure of 49 million for him next year???

[Rtech]

Minardi has been bought over by the Red Bull group which will use it a breeding ground for its drivers, or possibly convert it into an all american team. So they are safe.

William's will get the money for alternate sponsors as well. Nothing to worry about there.

However Jordan/Midland seems to be int he worst position. Unless they get some high paying drivers, their fuuture looks doubtful.

[Hatari]

williams are on cosworth power for 2006..

just heard that jenson's forking out $30 million to stay at BAR !
dont think BAR are directly involved in the deal
and he's signed a 5 yr deal with them ! whoa !

[Rtech]

BAR is giving JB a 5 year deal valued at about $88 Million!! He pays Williams $30 million now. Still goes laughing all the way to the bank with $58 million.

Until 2 years later he finds another team is doing better, so he publically says he wants to get outa BAR and join that team...

[shuvc]

Well , if so then in the same vein there should be some worries about McLaren too .. I believe West has withdrawn sponsorship .. and there are rumours that Siemens might too sometime later, since the mobile group has been taken over by BenQ ..

But as teams, these are goliaths .. they have and should survive the test of time .. they'll always get good sponsors .. yes, based on current form it would be more difficult for Williams .. but then Sir Frank does have a reputation and will surely find people who believe in his ability ...

[Steeroid]

Foster's is opting out of F1 too, pulling out of its commitment with the British GP till 2010 and also withdrawing as title sponsors for the Aussie GP.

Looks like F1's in for a sponsorship crisis, Williams or otherwise...and A1 has just announced 25 teams for the season. I think some of the money might end up there as well, especially when you consider the clout that the Arabs wield in the business world - Arab investment companies have significant stakes (and in many cases control as well) in many of the world's top spenders, so a bit of corporate arm twisting may be involved as well.

[papps]

well button is definitely out of williams now, its been official he has bought his way out of williams with a price between 10 - 20 million pounds... its official now

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34108

so now Button and Rubens is the line-up for BAR in 2006, so means no Taku and both of them will be fighting for top spot....

[Rtech]

No need to panic about sponsorship in F1 just yet:

Foster's confirms F1 involvement

The Australian beer company has moved quickly to scotch reports that it is reducing its involvement in Formula 1.

Foster's is one of the world's best-known supporters of Formula 1 and has been associated with the sport for over 20 years. Foster's sponsors three races: the Australian, San Marino and British Grands Prix and has premium trackside signage rights at 12 races and beer pouring rights at 13 races each year.

Foster's says that it has long term arrangements in place with F1 as the Official Beer of Formula One and with the world surfing championship competition, as title sponsor of the Foster's Men's World Tour and that it remains committed to supporting both of these important, global properties.

Intel deal back on track

We hear that the deal between McLaren and Intel is back on track with the plan being for a $55m title sponsorship for the Woking team from the giant American chipmaker. There had been some worries about the deal because of the recent deal between rival AMD and the FIA. It is not clear when the deal will be announced but we expect to see Intel on the McLarens in 2006 and beyond.

Source: www.grandprix.com

[Steeroid]

Now we have news that Williams is shifting to Bridgestones next year, joining Jordan, Minardi and the team that Bridgestone makes tyres for - Ferrari.

[papps]

that should be an interesting move, maybe good year should come back to formula 1 for a tyre war