Williams prioritises development spending - Pat Symonds

Development spending will once again precede locking up the services of a superstar driver for Williams, according to the team's technical director Pat Symonds.

The Grove outfit's responsible and rigorous budget approach has ruled out contracting a big salary driver such as Fernando Alonso, a man Symonds knows well for having shared the Spaniard's world titles at Renault in 2005/06.

"When I've said it in the past, I didn't meant we couldn't exploit what superstar drivers we have got, but they cost money," Symonds said to Autosport.

"But at the moment, we are deficient in areas which I would prioritise over a superstar driver.So if Alonso came to drive for us, we would make full use of him and we'd work well with him.

"We'd give him what we needed, there's no doubt about it, but if we had to pay his salary, we may not eat for a year."

Symonds was quick to underline the outstanding qualities of its current driver lineup comprised of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa.

"I think they are perfect for our team, they work so well together. They push each other in a pleasant way and it helps to get the whole team working nicely.

"Honestly, if I had a totally free hand, I'd keep exactly what we have got and it's not often I would say that."

Williams finished third in last year's constructors' championship for the second successive time. It's budget is estimated to be the fifth biggest in Formula 1.

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