Williams says it is starting to see the dividends of the “considerable transformation” it enacted within the team, in the wake of its Formula 1 regression.
Williams gradually slipped backwards through the hybrid era and undertook a design change for 2018, but tumbled to the rear of the 10-team Constructors’ Championship.
Williams remained rooted to the back of the pack through 2019, scoring just a single point, and failed to make it through Q1 all year.
Deputy team boss Claire Williams has emphasised her belief that the work undertaken behind-the-scenes means the outfit will be in a stronger position in 2020.
“We have had two difficult years, but two difficult years doesn’t define a team,” she said.
“What I’ve seen in this team this year is an extraordinary level of resilience and tenacity, but also a willingness to put in the hard work to turn things around.
“I’ve always said that work is never going to be the work of a moment. It takes time.
“But we have undergone considerable transformation in the team in the past 14 months, that we are seeing the dividends of that work starting to pay off now.
“We all have, as every team up and down the paddock has, targets for next year.
“We are pleased, and comfortable with those targets, and where we are at the moment, but it’s always a challenge I think for any team to meet the targets that they set, it’s a challenge to get their cars ready for testing, but we have to get it right next year.”
The team will enter 2020 with a tweaked line-up of George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, and Williams is adamant that the package will be more competitive than the unloved FW42.
“I believe that the FW43, next year’s chassis, will be an improvement upon this year’s,” she said.
“That’s what we’re all working towards back at the factory at the moment to make sure that it absolutely is.
“We have to make sure we give George and Nicholas a car that they can display their capabilities.”
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