Williams Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams insists that the team are continuing to fight for better in 2020 after a ‘brutal’ season resulted in the team’s worst World Championship finish in 42 years.
An arduous 2019 has seen the team pick up just a single point from the 21 race campaign – a record low for a team whose Formula 1 records are matched only by Ferrari and McLaren.
Only on the odd occasion this year have we seen Williams drivers being able to compete on-track, its two drivers George Russell and Robert Kubica propping up the time sheets at in all but a few sessions, be it practice, qualifying or Grand Prix.
However, Claire Williams says that encouraging behind-the-scenes signs have shown her that there is promise for the future, even if that hasn’t translated to performances or results as of yet.
“Last year [2018] was the worst year. I understand why people would see this year as worse but they can’t see behind the scenes. Last year I could not see how things would get better imminently. This year Williams is in a different place entirely. I know what is coming and I believe in it. Last year I didn’t really believe in it.” Claire Williams said in an interview with The Guardian.
“It has been a brutal year for everybody. We have all had our challenges going through this but I have always said the true test of character is how you react in difficult situations. That you don’t give up when the road gets rocky, you keep fighting. That’s one of the greatest lessons my dad taught me.”
Following the departure of key personnel, significant recruitment, the reintroduction of the team’s co-founder Patrick Head (architect of all but one of the team’s 114 Grand Prix wins) and a comprehensive review of the team’s structure, the Williams of today is a different proposition to the one that begun the 2018 season, precipitating its race to the back .
Time will tell if this makes for an improved 2020, or whether we’ll have to wait for F1’s big reset in 2021 to see the reinvigoration of one of F1’s most iconic teams.
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