Villeneuve: Choosing Claire over Jonathan a big mistake

Villeneuve, the driver turned pundit for Sky Italia, did not hold back when analysing the dire situation at his former Williams F1 team during an embarrassing British Grand Prix weekend on home turf for the Grove outfit,

"The team is dead, I do not see anything there... There is simply no management," declared Villeneuve in his worst rant about the team since he took on Lance Stroll for his poor performances late last year.

Villeneuve references the family feud that ultimately led to Claire Williams being made the heir apparent to Sir Frank Williams' in the role as team principal, chosen over her brother Jonathan Williams who now runs the heritage side of the business.

At the time it is believed Sir Frank did not trust that Jonathan had the chutzpah to run the Formula 1 team. In retrospect it appears to be a bad call, now in a time of trouble, he may end up being their saviour.

Villeneuve made no secret of where he believes it all went wrong, "There was an alternative back then: one of the two would be heir and they chose Claire instead of Jonathan - a big mistake, you just have to look where the team is today. "

"When it comes to a team you first have to look at the top of the pyramid, the fish starts to stink at the head, they're completely blind when It's all about understanding where the team stands. They have to admit they messed up. I do not see how the team is going to get out of it, I just do not see it," lamented Villeneuve.

With a grossly uncompetitive car, no likelihood of meaningful improvement and headlines trumpeting their every failure... and there have been many, the team also faces the prospect of Martini cheques no longer adding to the coffers.

Their freefall in the pecking order also means less prize money when it is awarded at the end of the season, throw in two very miserable pay drivers who are already looking elsewhere and suddenly we looking at a big hole in their future income.