Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas is sure that his former team, Williams, can emerge as a championship challenger once more in the future.
Bottas joined Williams in 2010 and graduated to a race seat in 2013, going on to take nine podiums from 77 race starts, including a best of fourth in the 2014 standings.
Williams achieved a high of third in the constructors’ championship during Bottas’ spell at the squad, in 2014 and 2015, but has not taken a title in the sport since 1997, when it won both championships with Jacques Villeneuve.
Bottas nonetheless feels that the improvements made at Williams across his lengthy time at the team shows that it can compete for overall honours in the future.
“With Williams I was there [for a] total of seven years, four years as a race driver,” he said during a farewell video for the team.
“Everything has gone really quickly, I’m [the driver with] one of the most races done in Williams, it’s been amazing, an amazing learning curve for me and also for the team.
“Every year the team has got more and more professional, things are developing, even though results sometimes don’t show it.
“I’ve always said: Williams has won so many championships that there’s no reason why it couldn’t win again, I think it’s only for this team a matter of time.
“It’s a shame we couldn’t get our first win or the title together but I wish all the best to Williams and lot of success, hope you will get the championship sooner rather than later.
“I feel, I hope, I’ve given a lot to Williams, at least I tried everything I could, always wanted to be a team player, my goal was always to bring the maximum points to the team.”
Williams' most recent victory came at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, courtesy of Pastor Maldonado.
