George Russell downplayed suggestions that his Williams Formula 1 team could join midfielders in 2020, despite encouraging performance during pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Williams scored just one point last season and his pilots rarely escaped elimination in the first qualifying segment.
Although troubled by several engine-related issues in two Barcelona tests this year, Russell and rookie teammate Nicolas Latifi established lap times in the new FW43, which were faster than those of the team’s pilots during the qualifications for the Spanish Grand Final last season. Price on the same circuit.
But Russell pointed out that the different track conditions made the comparisons almost irrelevant and that the team had no illusions about their relative competitiveness despite the signs of improvement.
“We are undoubtedly in a better position,” he said.
“I think realistically we are still the slowest car.
“We are not going to get carried away with ourselves, but we have definitely narrowed the gap.
“This is all we could have hoped for over the winter.
“We will go to Melbourne to see, but don’t expect to see us in Q2 or Q3.
“We have certainly improved, but expectations are all under control.
“Last year, when we upgraded our car, we were still in the 19th and 19th finals. So hopefully this year, when people slip up and perform well, this is where we can grab the opportunities.
“I know where we won, but quantifying it against other teams is difficult.”
George Russell downplayed suggestions that his Williams Formula 1 team could join midfielders in 2020, despite encouraging performance during pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Williams scored just one point last season and his pilots rarely escaped elimination in the first qualifying segment.
Although troubled by several engine-related issues in two Barcelona tests this year, Russell and rookie teammate Nicolas Latifi established lap times in the new FW43, which were faster than those of the team’s pilots during the qualifications for the Spanish Grand Final last season. Price on the same circuit.
But Russell pointed out that the different track conditions made the comparisons almost irrelevant and that the team had no illusions about their relative competitiveness despite the signs of improvement.
“We are undoubtedly in a better position,” he said.
“I think realistically we are still the slowest car.
“We are not going to get carried away with ourselves, but we have definitely narrowed the gap.
“This is all we could have hoped for over the winter.
“We will go to Melbourne to see, but don’t expect to see us in Q2 or Q3.
“We have certainly improved, but expectations are all under control.
“Last year, when we upgraded our car, we were still in the 19th and 19th finals. So hopefully this year, when people slip up and perform well, this is where we can grab the opportunities.
“I know where we won, but quantifying it against other teams is difficult.”