Jaguar/Williams and the C-X75 concept car

[XJ13]

I suspect most of you are already aware of Jaguar's plan to collaborate with Williams and put the concept car into production - here is a BBC link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13307919

My question is - bearing in mind the Indian enthusiasm for F1 (which is perhaps shared by Tata, the owners of Jaguar), do you think this could presage a return to F1 by Jaguar?

[fatboy b]

I did mention that at work on friday. Frank is getting on a bit, so it would seem right if Jag take over in a few years.

[lowdrag]

Now why oh why would Jaguar return to F1? Under Ford they took a look at the viewing statistics and decided that F1 was the way to go for the publicity. Well, they got publicity alright, but the wrong kind. Ford were trying to build a champagne car on beer money, spending £150 million a year when Ferrari were spending £750 million. No doubts then as to why they failed.

But there is more to it than that. Jaguar has never been a F1 team, they have been an endurance team. Far better then to go back to the grass roots enshrined in the 1950s and 80s and return to La Sarthe for the 24 hours and the rest of the endurance racing circuit. Done right it would give effective publicity at 10% of the F1 cost. I've seen the F1 cars quietly slumbering in a warehouse in Coventry, and I have no idea what will happen to them since they don't belong to Jaguar but Ford - unless they came with the buy-out by Tata but I don't think so. They are useless today and maybe one day could take part in what will be then classic racing, but they will always be remembered as an also-ran and a failure. So history repeats itself once again; Ford made the Edsel and then the F1 team.

[XJ13]

Yes - I agree that Jaguar has always been an "endurance team" (and a very successful one at that). However, Williams have always been a "F1 team" (and, formerly, a successful one at that). A partnership with Williams could fill the gap.

Firstly, Williams are privateer stalwarts of F1 with a string of racing successes. However, since the heady days of 2003, Williams have been performing worse and worse with each passing year. Although they clearly have the talent and ability to be a winning team, one view is that they have suffered a lack of investment in the last 8 years. They can only improve with the right investment.

Secondly, for me, Jaguar's (Ford's)exit from F1 was typical of an "American" approach to racing - if they can't win immediately they don't want to play. Contrast this with teams who have lean years but still stay the course - Ferrari included. I feel Jaguar's withdrawal from F1 may have been premature. Don't forget that Jaguar F1 effort was sold to Red Bull who seem to have some success in latter years

Thirdly, there is a willingness within Tata to prove themselves in F1. Witness the new Force India "Drivers' Academy" - who is the Academy's main sponsor? .... Tata

Time will tell ....

[Stitch]

But who has stayed the course and developed a successful team?

Ferrari stuck around because they couldn't do otherwise, only Red Bull seem to have been able to develop into a successful team and I suspect that they have thrown huge amounts of cash to get where they are today.

Brawn GP was a flash in the pan.

Tata are supporting Force India now as Tata, why should they look to change that?

[davepoth]

Engines maybe (especially since the new car is powered by a 1.6 turbo 4 pot), not as a works team though.

-edit-

Actually, that's complete genius. The engine in this car is going to make about the same power as an F1 car will in 2013, but they'll have had the development for the motor funded by rich Arabs and Russians. By the time 2013 rolls round Williams-Jaguar will have the best developed and most reliable engine of the whole grid.