Williams: Mercedes exceeds expectations

In 2014, the Williams team will partner with a seventh different engine supplier, after Cosworth (1977-1983, 2006 and 2010-2011), Honda (1984-1987), Judd (1988), Renault (1989-1997 and 2012-/f1/actualite/15630-officiel-lequipe-williams-sera-motorisee-par-mercedes-a-partir-de-2014.html, as well as its engines rebranded as Mechachrome in 1998 and Supertec in 1999), BMW (2000-2005) and Toyota (2007-2009). This new supplier is none other than Mercedes. Even though the partnership has not yet been tested by the reality of the track, the initial contacts and work already seem to have given great satisfaction.

For Claire Williams, deputy director of the team founded by her father, Frank Williams, the partnership has already exceeded expectations: « Yes, I think it has exceeded our hopes. It’s great because our expectations were at a very high level anyway, which is why we chose them. You know how professional the operation is, and everything we’ve seen since we signed this contract hasn’t changed our mindset, » she stated to Autosport.

The partnership with the German engine manufacturer, whose engine factory is located in Brixworth, Great Britain, seems more convenient than the one with Renault: « The simplest thing for us in all this is that they are very close, which makes things easier when you’re trying to work with them. Going to France is a long journey and it’s not necessarily conducive. […] Our engineers can go to Mercedes countless times, and they come to us. We are really happy. »

As for the 2014 season, Claire Williams believes it is still too early to know the level of each engine: “We are [excited], but I don’t know if anyone really knows where they stand with the engines and I don’t think we will know until the first tests. But it will be fascinating to see where each engine stands, and I hope that the Mercedes will be clearly the best in the paddock because that would help us move forward.”