nd on Tuesday morning.Michael Leitch has been out for two monthsnd on Tuesday morning.Michael Leitch has been out for two months | Forum

In the first two years of the V6 turbo era, Williams was the fairytale team mixing it with the might of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, recording consecutive third-place finishes in the constructors championship. Connor Williams Womens Jersey . However, after reaching those lofty heights, 2016 has been a reality check -- the team has slipped down towards the midfield and was demoted to fifth by Force India at the Belgian Grand Prix.Though much was made of Williams Mercedes power unit, acquired ahead of the 2014 season, it was part of a bigger jigsaw puzzle overseen by deputy team principal Claire Williams -- daughter of team founder Sir Frank, made defacto boss of the team in 2013. In the five years prior to her taking over, the dominant team of the mid-1990s had finished eighth, seventh, sixth, ninth and eighth.Asked if it was a proud feeling to have taken her family team back to the front end of the grid in such a short amount of time, Williams told ESPN: Yes it was. When I took over the DTP (deputy team principal) role in 2013 the team was not in particularly good shape and we did a lot of work throughout that year, a lot of work.We started in Australia, where we saw where the team was, and we didnt really leave any stone unturned. We came into 2014 and we obviously had the benefit of the massive engine regulation change, which obviously helped us because we had the Mercedes power unit but our success wasnt purely the result of the engine regulation change, you dont just benefit from a change like that, theres a lot of work thats gone on behind the scenes.This years slip down the order was anticipated by Williams -- she sees it as inevitable given the lack of significant regulatory change since 2014.We knew this year was going to be much harder obviously with going into the third year of regulation stability the field is going to tighten up, so we knew we were going to have our work cut out. But it has been disappointing but I suppose we still have to remember and I always say we have to remember where we have come from over the past two years, so to be disappointed at fourth is almost a positive thing.But thats about to change in 2017, with a massive revamp of F1 set to increase speeds with wider cars and chunkier tyres. Every team on the grid has had the classic condundrum -- staying competitive in 2016 while also committing enough resource to a rule change which could make it a contender once again. So how does a team like Williams, operating on the margins of its budget year in year out, cope with a two-pronged approach to development this year?2017As ESPN talked to Williams on Saturday in Spa, the previous four weeks had seen several reports of the team being out-developed by its main rivals. A solitary podium from Valtteri Bottas in Canada hints at the teams struggles this season, where it has remained constantly in the upper midfield but a long way behind the battle for best of the rest behind Ferrari and Red Bull.But Williams insists that drop off is not because of an increased focus on 2017. Speaking about the rule changes, she said: I think its a bit of unknown isnt it? We didnt divert resource, we always had a plan going into this year of what resource would be allocated for 2016 upgrades and development work, and then running a parallel programme for 2017, work for next years chassis. But a team like ours, with the resources we have, you are always going to have to compromise somewhere, but we didnt make a conscious decision looking at our performance this year, that were going to divert resource to 17 now. We havent shifted on the plan.Going into next year I think its great for the sport that weve got changes coming. I think its exciting, as a person Im naturally quite risk averse so its kind of like looking at next year you never know where you are going to be. I think again we may have a position by which because there are such diverse regulations coming in from where we are now, whether its going to bring about convergence of performance amongst the teams? I dont know because no one knows where they are. It could be again a concertina affect whereby its pulling everybody away from each other. So I think we have got to wait and see but I think its positive for the sport and its a good, exciting move.The day before we spoke in the Spa paddock, Williams had been asked when a decision would be made on the teams 2017 driver line up in the Friday press conference, replying with a wry smile: Before the end of the year.Its a question Williams has become quite used to -- and clearly quite frustrated at -- answering in recent weeks. With Felipe Massa out of contract this year, the team has been linked with Jenson Button and Sergio Perez. Though Williams has refused to be drawn on a timetable for an announcement -- last years was made ahead of the Italian Grand Prix -- she said the financial implications of 2017s regulations will play no part in which drivers end up representing the Grove outfit next year.We made a very conscious decision back in 2013 that we wanted to move away from the pay driver position. We would never put a driver in our car purely for financial reasons, because thats not who we are as a team, its not who we need to be as a team.We have a very healthy racing budget of a minimum of a ￡110 million a year, but of course if a driver does come with financial backing, then thats an added bonus and I dont consider it [a bad thing].I think the pay-driver term is extremely negative because a driver can be a great talent but have that added benefit of bringing money, so of course us, as an independent team, when the sponsorship market is as it is currently, then of course thats a consideration for us.We have to be a responsible business. We have 750 employees and we want to make sure that we keep 750 employees, thats the most important thing for us.Team bossThe Williams name is one of the most famous in motor racing. Founded by Sir Frank in 1977, the team has won nine constructors and seven drivers championships. The team dominated in the mid-1990s and has remained one of the most popular on the grid, an independent stalwart competing against the might of better-funded opposition. Her father has the credit for creating the Williams dynasty but Claire scoffs at any notion that she is trying to step out from under her fathers shadow.Franks shoes are big shoes to step into and Im not trying to take over his team, Im just trying to continue Franks legacy in the best way that I can. It was very much a baptism of fire when I took over the role and Ive learnt so much in three years.Its been an amazing journey and Im very lucky that we have great people at Williams. Im not just here - we have a wonderful board and executive committee and senior management group at Williams and we all work together, this is not just one person and then a group of people. Theres a very positive atmosphere at Williams and this is how we work. There have been some wonderful times, when we took third at Abu Dhabi [in 2014], that will be the best race that Ive ever been to and I will never forget that moment.And yes there have been lows, but thats Formula One and because Ive grown up in this sport I suppose Im fairly used to the cyclical nature of it. Thats what makes winning great, because you experience the awful pain that comes with losing, whether that means youve come fourth or youve come 15th. Im only at the start of my career-journey in this role.Williams says her father has slowly stepped away from the role since she took over in 2013, and that she is more in control than ever before, mixing his own racing mentality with a fresher, younger approach to modern F1.Were father and daughter but were still individuals. For me its so important -- and thats one of the reasons why I was given this job -- is to make sure that I continue the embed the Williams DNA into this team, because thats who we are, that is our culture, that DNA running through us and thats really important.I feel I have a different outlook because I am of a different generation to Frank, but I always have his thoughts in my head whenever Im doing anything. When I took over in 2013 Frank was much more involved in a daily basis, hes very much stepped back over the past year and I am doing more of the TP more than I ever have before.Ive got so much more that I want to achieve at Williams, were just at the beginning. We went through this big transformation in 2013 but a Formula One team is a continually evolving beast and we have to keep working at it, nurturing it, loving it and one day I hope that this team will be fighting for championships again. Im certainly not going to give up until we are in that position. But its a great journey, its a great ride, its a real privilege to work in this sport and its an even greater privilege to work in a family-owned team.Women in F1Williams role in the sport has naturally led to a lot of attention about women in F1, with Williams and Saubers Monisha Kaltenborn the only female team bosses in the sport. Her achievements led to an unexpected OBE earlier this year -- something she admitted was a complete shock at the time. However, Williams thinks it is other people who make a big deal about her gender, something she has never felt is an obstacle to success in the sport.I never really think about being a woman in Formula One. I never really think about it personally, its when everyone else thinks about it that its glaringly obviously there. I just go about my job and get on with my job to best of my abilities and of course a woman in a role like this, there is going to be a bit of a spotlight than if I was a bloke doing it -- and thats fine -- I try not to think about it too much because I dont think as myself as a role model or a reason why more women are coming into this sport. I think thats just more of a natural evolution really.I think its great to see and I think that if my role does encourage other girls to come in then I think thats fantastic. I think this sport has changed so much over the past few years, the gender landscape within Formula One, and I think we should be really proud of that as a sport and shout about it.Though F1 has not had a female driver start a grand prix Lella Lombardi in 1976, the sport remains open to men and women competing side by side. They also work alongside each other in the paddock, with the ratio evening out every year, something Williams feels is overlooked by the wider sporting world.Asked if the sport gets an unfair reputation as male-dominated, she replies: I agree, Im constantly banging that drum and reminding people that this is a sport that has grown up as a jobs for the boys, toys for the boys etc.So many other sports; golf doesnt generally allow that, rugby, football, its all segregated and we should shout about it more. I say that, I put that message out there all the time because I think that it is really important. Because that is facilitated within our sport, its up to women to come in and take the jobs and become drivers, its up to our side on the gender fence to do that.Though Bernie Ecclestone has courted controversy with his comments about women not being physically or mentally cut out to compete alongside men in F1, Williams believes too much emphasis is placed on finding the next female F1 driver.When ESPN put it to her that getting more women into motorsport would take another generation, she replied: I think its much bigger, I think its a society issue. I think its a genetic issue, and Im not talking about women being able to drive a race car because I absolutely think they can.We are two different genders and we are very entrenched in the ways in which we do things and the processes and stuff like that. You shouldnt fight that, I think its up to every individual to decide what they want to do in life and if they decide that they want to be an aerodynamicist in Formula One then absolutely brilliant, and we should try and be inspirational as a sport.We should have role models to showcase that that can be done and its up to... If we want more women in our sport, were doing the work and its ups to them to come in and show us ... come in, jump in and do it.For me, I think its much wider conversation and its much more about human nature in general. But I think we are seeing a shift as generations progress, women being more prevalent in the workspace and the work enviroment, staying in the workspace for longer, believing that they can do things that originally blocks did but this is long and this is not the work of a generation. Jaylon Smith Youth Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Amari Cooper Cowboys Jersey . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. https:///...len-Inverted-Jersey/ . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Chopping down the best athletes in Super Rugby will be the key to toppling the Hurricanes in next weeks succulent Super Rugby semi-final in Wellington.Thats the attitude of the two-time champion Chiefs, who joined their opponents in thumping a hapless South African side in the quarter-finals.The top-seeded Hurricanes whitewashed the Sharks 41-0 and will enjoy home advantage again.They dont face a second week of draining trans-Indian Ocean travel like the sixth-seeded Chiefs, who overwhelmed the Stormers 60-21 in Cape Town on Saturday (Sunday AEST) and will face a third game on the road if they reach the final.Chiefs coach Dave Rennie is downplaying the travel factor, saying it didnt enter his players psyches in Cape Town and he doesnt expect it to over the coming week.The priority will instead be countering a Hurricanes side who he says are leading the way in terms of strike power.Their ability to keep the ball alive, all of their back five in their forwards are dangerous ball carriers, Rennie said.Theyve got a hell of a lot of firepower so the key to beating them is to suppress a little bit of that. Thats a big chaallenge. Jaylon Smith Cowboys Jersey. Injury rehabilitation will play a major part for both teams.Hurricanes captain and All Blacks hooker Dane Coles is in doubt after taking a painful blow to the ribs.The Chiefs lost inside centre Stephen Donald (shoulder) and co-captain Sam Cane (head knock) during the Stormers win and couldnt say how serious either injury is.Donalds absence could be countered by a likely return to fitness of two-Test All Blacks centre Seta Tamanivalu, who missed the quarter-final with a knee injury.All Blacks flanker Cane will undergo concussion tests, with results not likely to be known until after the team arrive in New Zealand on Tuesday morning.Michael Leitch has been out for two months with a dislocated thumb but the No.8 could be ready to play.If both Cane and Leitch are ruled out, Rennie will consider making another appeal to SANZAAR for dispensation to field All Blacks flanker Liam Messam, who was deemed ineligible for the quarter-final after playing just two games this season. ' ' '