Poor performance not due to lack of our own 'pink Mercedes' - Williams

  • Published on 05 Apr 2020 10:09
  • comments 0
  • By: Harry Mattocks

Williams says that its choice not to buy listed parts from their engine partner Mercedes cannot be blamed for their lack of performance in recent years.

For the last two seasons, the Grove-based outfit has finished last in the constructors' championship. Last season was one of its worst in history however, with the team finishing the year with only one point to its name.

Ever since Haas joined the Formula 1 grid in 2016, the customer team model has grown in popularity. This is where a team will purchase listed parts (parts which the FIA say can be manufactured elsewhere), instead of designing them in-house in order to save money and often increase their performance.

Racing Point turned heads when they arrived at pre-season testing with a car that looked very similar if not identical to the 2019 Mercedes. The team say that although they have not bought any parts from Mercedes, they have looked at photos of their design and reverse-engineered it.

This is not illegal as the team did not buy the parts from the current world champions, but has upset some teams in the paddock that have pursued their own concepts.

It has also raised the question as to why Williams has not adopted a customer team model in order to improve their performance and keep the costs low, but deputy team principal Claire Williams stressed that it is their goal to remain as independent as possible.

"I've always been really clear on where Williams stands around being an independent constructor and how proud we are of that. We're in this sport based on what we do," Williams said.

"But when we get it wrong, that's our fault. And when we get it right, we can take credit for that. So that is hugely important to who we are.

"We've been successful with the business model that we have in the recent past. We were very successful in 2014, '15, '16 and '17. It's just the past two years.

"It's not because we don't have a Mercedes that's coloured pink that we're not doing very well."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 08:53

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 08:53

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jul 21 1976 (48)
  • Place of b. Windsor, Berkshire, England, GB
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 0 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar