Barrichello: Williams lacking a leader

Rubens Barrichello says the Williams team is missing a leader that helps the British squad return to the right path following a difficult start to the 2011 season

Williams announced a restructuring of its technical department last week, with technical director Sam Michael confirming he will step down at the end of the year.

Mike Coughlan will be joining the team as chief engineer.

Barrichello welcomed the changes, but he feels there is a need to find a leader for the team.

"We are missing something still," said Barrichello. "We need to address the problems. It is good to have some of the top guys here to see, because Sam will give 100% up until the end, but we need a leader. We need a leader.

"Right now, it is almost like we have too many but not enough. A lot of people are trying to say something but in the end that is not the point. They need to focus on what they are doing.

"Sam looks a bit more relaxed because he has settled down a bit. We need, as soon as possible, something that brings the car along."

The Brazilian reckons he can help Williams bring key people on board thanks to his many years in the sport.

"I can possibly recruit more people, look at other teams. I can. I am a top ten guy in the paddock who has been around the longest. I know a few people and I am calling them.

"The engineering side is okay, but we need to focus on developing and sorting the problems out because right now we are getting from one race to another and is the problem getting sorted? We have had this KERS problem from the first race so depending on the weather attitude we are still struggling."

Barrichello believes there is still time to turn the team around, but he says everybody has to work hard to achieve it.

"I am possible the most positive guy in the paddock. I will always dream of a change. Right now what I said in the team, in the briefing - it is like a message that people send out to the world: everybody needs to do their individual thing to get out of this.

"Right now, it is too easy to say that Williams has gone, that it is in the past. But if each member does their little bit on their way of working, they are going to make it better and we need it better, because right now there is such a suffering with the way the car goes."