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Williams now ripe to win - Bottas

Valtteri Bottas is confident Williams can return to the winner's circle this season and end its race-winning drought.

The Grove-based squad enjoyed its last F1 triumph in 2012, when Pastor Maldonado unexpectedly won the Spanish Grand Prix. But it's been over 12 years since Williams was a consistent winner in Grand Prix racing.

A week before the 2016 season gets underway in Melbourne, Valtteri Bottas believes his team now has all the right ingredients to return to the top step.

"Of course we want to win, and as a team our goal is to do better than last year," said the Finn.

"I think it is possible and I think we can do it. We've been getting stronger all the time as a team and the new car we have improved from last year, so it's going to be close this year. We have high hopes."

Williams finished third last year in the Constructors championship behind Mercedes and Ferrari. Based on its positive results from pre-season testing in Barcelona, the team's FW38 contender will be a force to be reckoned with.

Bottas' team mate, Felipe Massa, echoed the Finn's ambitions.

"We did some good lap times in Barcelona, some consistent long runs as well and we're working really hard to get close to Mercedes and Ferrari.

"I am totally with Valtteri. We want to win, we want more, and we want to put this car on top."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.