Williams performance chief Rob Smedley says he expects the British team to be “certainly closer” to the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull at next weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Having finished third in the Constructors’ standings in the last two championships, Williams has slipped down to fourth in the current competitive order and is coming off a low-key Monaco performance.
Smedley remains confident the Grove-based outfit will fare better in the next F1 rounds. Asked whether he expected Williams to be closer to its rivals ahead in Canada, the British engineer replied: “Certainly closer.
“We usually correlate well the higher the average speed of the circuit is. That always plays into where we’ve developed this car and where we continue to develop it. We think that gives us more benefit than developing down to the efficiency levels of Monaco and Singapore.
“Places like that, you just have to accept that when you come here they are not going to be the prettiest races for Williams. But when we get to Canada, to Austria and to Silverstone, then obviously we would hope to get nearer to the Ferraris and Red Bulls and actually take the challenge to them.”
Smedley’s latest remarks come after he insisted the Mercedes-engined FW38 was “not a one-trick pony” only capable of performing on power-sensitive tracks.
From the cockpit: Felipe Nasr on a controversial Monaco Grand Prix
Scene at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix
Driver ratings - Monaco Grand Prix
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
The paddock is never short on whispers, and the current chatter surrounding the Aston Martin-Honda…
Haas F1 reserve driver Jack Doohan is charting a new path – and this time,…
After another hard-fought podium at Suzuka, Charles Leclerc has pointed directly at Ferrari’s flaw –…
Although the Formula 1 season is typically well underway by this point of the year,…
The soul of 1965 has officially broken cover in the 21st century. Sitting in solemn…
Max Verstappen is making noise again – but this time, it’s not from the front…