Felipe Massa believes it’s important for the Williams team to apply some pressure to nearest rival Ferrari, and the Brazilian is hopeful that their Austrian upgrades will allow them to do so.
The Grove outfit has been holding off on introducing major upgrades until the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, where it hopes it can close the gap and claw back some of the 76-point deficit to Ferrari.
“Looking at the upgrades on the [Ferrari] engine the difference [to Mercedes] is still similar and I think it shows that we can still fight at the front,” said Massa who finished sixth in Canada despite starting 15th.
“I think the team is going in a good line. It’s an important moment for us: we have a good track for us in Austria with some upgrades.
“So I think it’s an important moment for us to put some pressure on Ferrari.”
Massa reckons Williams will take another step to possibly challenge Ferrari more regularly when Mercedes eventually introduce an upgraded engine – something the German manufacturer hopes to do around the Belgian GP.
“I don’t know when Mercedes will put some upgrades on the engine maybe when they do we can get stronger in that area,” he added.
