Claire Williams says George Russell and Robert Kubica have been “extraordinarily instrumental” in maintaining morale at the team amid its ongoing slump.
Williams slipped to last in the 2018 Constructors’ standings and has lost further ground through the early events of 2019.
Rookie Russell and returnee Kubica have spent the season rooted to the rear of the field in both qualifying and the races, with Kubica – who has finished each race – already having been lapped 10 times.
“Both drivers have done more than we could possibly expected them to,” she said.
“They knew as much as we did going into this season it was going to be difficult but both have been extraordinarily instrumental in maintaining and supporting the morale within the team, being team players, and keeping a level head.
“That must be incredibly difficult year for them.
“Even if it is not Robert Kubica’s rookie year he has been away for a long time so it must be difficult for them going out each week knowing that they will probably qualify last and finish last but they have done a great job so I hope that continues.”
Williams also went on to laud the spirit in the race team and at its factory in Grove, despite its chasm to the rest of the midfield in 2019.
“It is good, it is hard work to make sure moral is good and where you want it to be for everyone to be at their best but it is something we’ve always worked hard on for a number of years,” she said.
“We have a programme in place to make sure we keep morale where it needs to be.
“The signs of how well we do, last year on the race team we only lost one person and that wasn’t down to team performance or wanting to jump ship.
“That tells you the spirit we have in the team at the moment and the very fact that people are going over and above to make sure the two or three chassis are ready.
“Everybody knows the journey that they are in and they want to be a part of it. For me the spirit is a typical Williams spirit, everyone is enjoying the challenge.”
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