F1 News

Williams spirit “more than I have ever seen it before”

Williams spirit “more than I have ever seen it before”

06-03-2020 16:49

Bevan Youl

Williams deputy team principle Claire Williams has said that the teams spirit going into the 2020 Formula 1 season is “more than I have ever seen it before” after two years of struggle.

The past two years haven’t been the best for Williams as they have propped up the back of the F1 grid with an uncompetitive car.
 
The Grove based team finished fifth in the championship in 2017 on 83 points but could only manage seven in 2018.
 
2019 was where Williams hit “rock bottom” as they were unable to get a car on track in pre-season testing for two days.
 
"That for us was a shameful moment last year, not getting our car out,” Williams told Reuters.
 
“We'd managed to do it 42 years prior to 2019 and we failed last year. That was our rock bottom."
 
Robert Kubica’s point at the German Grand Prix was the only one for the team last year but things look to be different going into the 2020 season.
 
George Russell was the first driver out on track in the FW43 in Barcelona this year and Williams states the spirit and atmosphere of the team is completely different.
 
"It's really been no stone left unturned to look at what we're doing,” she added. "You can sense the difference in the team.

"You can sense the greater level of communication amongst all the areas, the departments.

"The spirit has always been there but it's there more than I have ever seen it before and everybody is working incredibly hard to make sure we deliver performance.

"I always knew last year that I was in a position to drive change. And I wasn't about to give up. Us Williamses are a bunch of fighters and we don't give up that easily."