Michael remains cautious about Williams’ condition

Williams Technical Director Sam Michael approaches the latest pre-season tests with a good feeling about his team’s chances for the new season. However, he makes no predictions about the competitiveness of the British team.

With Kazuki Nakajima having set the fastest time on the last day of testing in Barcelona, Spain, two days ago, the new FW30 seems to be a serious outsider to go challenge teams like Ferrari or McLaren.

« There is a good feeling in the team. We want to go directly on the track to compete at the level of other teams. We know the position we want to achieve. We are not there yet, but we know our goals, » said Michael.

Williams will use a new aerodynamic package during the tests next week in Barcelona, Spain. This will be the final stretch before the start of the season, but Michael does not guarantee that these new parts will immediately elevate the team to the top.

« I think this one will only keep us in a position we currently hold, » he said about the new aerodynamic package.

« Everyone has a ‘new’ plan for Melbourne, so everyone will improve! It will then be each team’s ability to progress throughout the season that will determine the rankings. »

When asked where he saw Williams in the hierarchy judging by their fairly impressive pace during winter testing, Michael stated: « Behind McLaren and Ferrari, that’s for sure. But after that, the situation is a bit more unclear. »

« I don’t really know where we are. And I don’t think there has been a single year where we could explicitly announce a rank before the third or fourth race. »

« In previous years, the first race generally went well, and then several bad races would follow. Otherwise, there are years when we completely missed our race in Australia, but later with Malaysia, things improved, » concluded the technical director.