Williams challenges the Mercedes team

"Mercedes is not invincible," said Williams officials. “Mercedes has small wounds, but these are not visible because they are a strong team. However, we need to be prepared when the wounds increase, ”Pat Symonds, technical manager, told Reuters.

Last season, only three races managed to beat the Mercedes team due to their own mistakes by another team, basically it was just the Ferrari team. And why not Williams? “We’ve certainly had too many operational errors, there’s no doubt about that,” Symonds replies, predicting a better 2016 season. “I can’t promise to be completely error-free because no one is immune to errors, but we had too many last season. We will reduce that next season, "he continued.

The problem is that the advantage can only be sought in the chassis, as against a Mercedes engine this is all the more difficult. “If they drive a little faster, which they can also afford, it gives them a tenth of a second, then we need to have a car that is a tenth of a second faster to be at a similar level,” Symonds is optimistic. "And I know the current improvements are much better than they were last year."

Felipe Massa, who was on the verge of victory last season, is also on the same level. "Last season we were on the podium a few times and even more times the year before," Massa explained to Sky Sports F1. "I hope and know that we will soon win and have a race car that will be able to do that."

This is only possible by developing a car from last season. “It’s really just some further development, but in my opinion at the same time a very big step forward. We have some new features on the nose of the car as well as on the chassis itself and under it. And some very good news on the back of the car. The boys have made great strides in developing and testing in the wind tunnel, ”said Rob Smedley, Williams' chief engineer.

Regarding the title of world champion, the main representatives of the Williams team just did not speak. “For 2016, this may really be too high a goal,” Smedley replied. “But we are confident of individual victories in the races. Our goal is to constantly improve. Already in 2014 it was very successful for us, last season as well. We are approaching the teams that are at the top of Formula 1, and we must continue to work in this direction, for which we continue to make every effort. ”