Despondent Claire Williams says F1 is 'basically broken'

Claire Williams says all the hard work in the world won't bring success back to Williams, as the “financial discrepancy” between F1's teams is just too big.

The Grove-based outfit's deputy team principal, who has been at the helm since 2013, believes a $150 million budget cap currently under consideration by Formula 1's management could provide salvation for the sport.

But if the changes do not come to pass, Williams is pessimistic about the future.

"When I started, I really thought we could win again,” she told Blick's veteran F1 reporter Roger Benoit.

“Now I do not believe that any more. Our sport is basically broken."

• Past performance in Baku not indicative of future results for Williams

Once a dominant force in Grand Prix racing, Williams has not won a title since 1997, or a race since Pastor Maldonado's victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in 2012.

This year, the team is falling short of its ambitions of remaining a top mid-field contender, having yet to score a championship point in 2018.

"It's naive to believe that if you just work hard, you'll be rewarded,” added a despondent Williams.

“Except for the top three teams, nobody will win in the future.

"The financial discrepancy compared to Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull is just too big. It's impossible to keep up. And it's sad.

"If the new Formula 1 owners actually push the $150 million budget from 2021, we could survive," she added.

However, Williams acknowledged that the Oxfordshire based team also needs to do a better job straight away.

"There are teams with less money than we have who are doing a better job," she said.

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