P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alex Zanardi was supposed to be the driver to lead Williams back to F1 glory. Instead, he failed to score a point and left a miserable relationship one season into what was supposed to be a long-term deal. Our Bring Back V10s classic F1 podcast explores how and why it went so wrong
Alex Zanardi’s successful tenure in the CART IndyCar series led Williams team owners to believe he was the right man to bring their Formula 1 team back to greatness. However, when Zanardi returned to F1 with Williams in 1999, he failed to score any points and the relationship quickly deteriorated. A contract break was eventually arranged to end the miserable partnership after just one season of what was supposed to be a long-term deal. In the latest episode of the Bring Back V10s podcast, host Glenn Freeman, along with Williams insider Jim Wright and Zanardi superfan Matt Beer, try to uncover why the Zanardi/Williams partnership went so wrong. They discuss the various factors that contributed to the decline, including questionable decisions such as the steel brakes experiment and Zanardi’s temporary improvement in performance. The episode also explores the reasons why Williams was initially eager to sign Zanardi and why both parties experienced regret over the outcome for many years afterwards. Listeners are invited to submit their questions about F1 between 1989 and 2005 for the end-of-series episode using the hashtag #BringBackV10s on Twitter or through email. The Bring Back V10s podcast is available on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and early access and exclusive bonus content can be accessed by joining The Race Members’ Club.
