Sepang track should help Williams fare ‘a bit better’

Williams performance chief Rob Smedley says the Sepang International Circuit should suit his team "a bit better" during this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Despite Felipe Massa’s strong fourth place finish in Melbourne, the Grove-based outfit seems to have slipped behind Ferrari in the 2015 pecking order after Sebastian Vettel outraced the Brazilian veteran Down Under.

However, Smedley thinks the purpose built nature of the Malaysian venue should play to the new FW37’s strengths.

Featuring fast and flowing corners as well as a couple of long straights followed by tight hairpins, the Sepang International Circuit usually offers a clearer picture in terms of performance than the temporary layout of the Albert Park Circuit.

"Sepang is one of the first of the Herman Tilke circuits and the drivers like it as it includes fast corners and overtaking opportunities," said Smedley. "The ambient conditions always play quite a big part in the weekend and the drivers have to be ready for those challenges.

"The circuit itself starts off with quite a lot of front graining and finishes being rear limited during the race. As it is a purpose built circuit we should be able to see more of the strengths of the FW37 and it should suit us a bit better."

Located in the vicinity of Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur, the Sepang International Circuit appeared on the F1 calendar in 1999 and was first in the flurry of modern tracks that have mushroomed in the sport ever since.

Click here to learn about a key Mercedes power unit change in 2015

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