Russell: No way Williams will be as far off F1 rivals as last year
George Russell feels there is "no way" Williams will be as far off the pace of is its 2020 Formula 1 rivals as it was last year
Williams' 2020 season started in much better shape compared to '19 - when it missed the first two full days of testing with the FW42 - with Russell handing it the ninth fastest time in the first Barcelona test, ahead of Haas.
When asked if he felt Williams would be closer to the midfield this year (the team scored just one point in 2019), Russell said: "There's no way we'll be as far off the pace as we were last year.
"Last year on average we were one second behind [and] you can say that all the other teams at least have found three tenths - so for us to be fighting we need to have found at least that amount.
"If we can achieve what we're aiming for then I think it'll be a great job, which is to be fighting with other teams.
"But we just need to see - next week will be a better understanding but realistically, Melbourne is the time everybody will know where they stand."
Russell spent most of the morning sessions on the first two days of the first test completing a series of aerodynamic correlation tests.
His team-mate Nicholas Latifi drove on the final day.
Russell explained that this was because Williams had brought "loads of aero items" to try and "see if everything's correlating versus the windtunnel, versus CFD and how it's working on the track".
He added: "We did loads of rake running [on the second] morning. I don't know the results from [that] yet but it's very beneficial and it's what's needed in these early days.
"It wasn't the perfect day [on Thursday], but I think it'll be productive in the long run."
Williams' deputy team principal Claire Williams said that the squad is targeting "realistically a Q2 position", as well as scoring at each round in 2020.
- Read more on the first pre-season F1 test of 2020
- What we learned from the first test
- Early benchmark times make Mercedes favourite
- Video: F1's big hitters' contrasting fortunes
"We want to go racing," she said.
"We're here in Formula 1 to go racing, that's why Williams exists, we're not here to do anything else.
"We're here because we love racing, and last year we just weren't racing.
"Robert [Kubica, who drove for the team in 2019] and George were racing each other, and we want to be coming to each and every race, being able to fight for realistically a Q2 position.
"And then to fight for a position in the race that brings our pride back I suppose, and that George and Nicholas have the opportunity to fight with the midfield competitors."
Share Or Save This Story
Why Britain’s role in Formula 1 endured a troubled start
Why Bottas believes his F1 reserve driver role is the fastest route back to a race seat
Why Norris is now ready for his final exam
Is it now or never for Russell in hunt for F1 title?
Analysis: Antonelli is leading F1's title hunt, but is he quicker than Russell?
How Leclerc’s energy strategy allowed him to beat Russell at Japanese GP
How every F1 2026 team has performed so far
Hill's standout memories from his 1996 F1 title-clinching race, 30 years on
Albon: Williams' 2026 weight problem "doesn't explain" performance deficit
Renger van der Zande and Meyer Shank Racing win Long Beach IMSA race
Driver dies following multi-car crash in Nürburgring 24h Qualifiers race
What’s going on at Aston Martin – and how does the team find a way out of its hole?
BTCC Donington Park: Rowbottom gives Plato’s team a debut win after Ingram penalty
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments