Despite the team having completed eight days of pre-season testing in Barcelona, Williams chief technical officer Pat Symonds is keenly aware that the real proof of how good the FW38 will be in 2016 compared with their rivals on the track still lies ahead.
The first round of the 2016 Formula One season is now less than seven days away, with the traditional curtain raiser taking place at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
"It’s always great to get back to Melbourne," said Symonds. "It’s a real test for the teams and drivers as they move from winter testing mode into competitive racing."
The Melbourne Grand Prix circuit is very different from that found at Barcelona, consisting of 3.296 miles over 16 corners on roads that are in everyday use for the rest of the year.
"As a circuit, it provides a few engineering challenges," Symonds agreed. "The entry to Turn 1 has been notoriously bumpy in previous seasons, although due to some resurfacing work it should be smoother this year.
"The highspeed change of direction through Turns 11 and 12, which require an agile car, coupled with the relatively low grip that improves significantly throughout the weekend, leaves teams chasing a set-up that provides good low-speed grip with high-speed stability."
Despite the challenges, Symonds is confident that the first round of the new season will confirm his hopes and expectations for the team's 2016 challenger.
"We feel we have a good platform to work from this year and hope we can manage these challenges to achieve a competitive outcome."
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