“We need somebody back,” Ex-F1 team boss claims Williams ‘needs direction’ after unacceptable Australian GP chassis fiasco

Eddie Jordan expressed his frustration over the downfall of Williams Racing after the Grove-based squad had no spare chassis at the Australian GP.

“We need somebody back,” Ex-F1 team boss claims Williams ‘needs direction’ after unacceptable Australian GP chassis fiasco

James Vowles (Via: Imago)

Williams Racing had a disastrous weekend at the Australian GP. Alex Albon had a massive crash in free practice which damaged his chassis beyond repair in time for the race. With no spare chassis, Team Principal James Vowles decided to bench Logan Sargeant and give the American driver’s car to Albon. Now, former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has slammed the Grove-based team.

The British squad was acquired by Dorilton Capital in 2020. James Vowles was appointed as team boss last year. Vowles has publicly mentioned that Williams is far behind rivals in terms of technology at its base. This has put the Grove-based team on the backfoot.

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Eddie Jordan highlighted how the once legendary outfit was now at the back of the field. The Irishman recalled the time when the likes of Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna had raced for Williams.

Look, how great has this team fallen... We remember [Nigel] Mansell, we remember [Alain] Prost, we remember [Ayrton] Senna. We remember the great drivers that were there.
Eddie Jordan said on the Formula For Success podcast (H&T: RacingNews365)

The 76-year-old expressed his frustration over the Grove-based team’s downfall. Jordan wondered what had happened to Williams. The Irishman recalled the team’s founders Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head. Frank Williams passed away in November 2021. However, Eddie Jordan claimed that the team needed Patrick Head, who now spends most of his time in Italy’s Sardinia.

For heaven’s sake man, what has happened to Williams? Patrick [Head] and [Sir] Frank [Williams], of course, sadly, is no longer with us, but Patrick is often in Sardinia, we need him back.
Eddie Jordan continued

Moreover, Jordan claimed that the British squad needed someone from its glory days back in the team’s leadership. The 76-year-old found it unacceptable that an iconic team like Williams would race in the third round of a season without an extra chassis.

We need somebody back. It just needs direction. It’s impossible to accept that a team like Williams can go to a race, which they went to in Australia, with only the chassis that they had for the drivers - it’s unacceptable
Eddie Jordan noted

Eddie Jordan demands answers from Williams over lack of a spare chassis

James Vowles’ decision to give Sargeant’s car to the driver who crashed his own chassis was met with backlash from critics. Moreover, Alex Albon had admitted that the atmosphere within the Grove-based squad was not ideal over the entire situation.

Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant in the F1 paddock
Alex Albon [L] and Logan Sargeant [R] in the F1 paddock (image via IMAGO)

Eddie Jordan claimed that he was completely staggered to see Williams in such a position. The 76-year-old was interested in hearing what the Grove-based team had to say. The Irishman claimed that the entire situation was critical and it was necessary for James Vowles to give an answer to fans and the paddock.

I’m absolutely staggered – and I’d like to hear what Williams has to say – because I think it needs to be answered. It’s too critical.
Eddie Jordan stated

Williams is currently in a race with time to repair Albon’s chassis for the Japanese GP. The Grove-based team will likely not have a spare chassis in the fourth race of the season as well. However, James Vowles’ squad is working around the clock to ensure that such a massive problem is not faced in the future.

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