Williams hoping new floor will end performance downturn

Williams' Pat Symonds is frustrated with the team's recent downturn in form but is hoping upgrades brought to this weekend' Hungarian Grand Prix will help the team.

The British team finished the last two season in third position but has slipped to fourth this year, dropping behind a resurgent Renualt-powered Red Bull.

"We have got to bring performance to the car and we have got to use the car well," said Symonds. "The main thing is get on top of the tyres, but we need to get the aero up a little bit."

As well as slipping further behind Ferrari and Red Bull, Symonds is aware of the threat posed by Force India, who have publicly stated their ambitions to overhaul Williams in the championship.

"Force India has made some good aero steps since Barcelona, and we probably haven't kept up with that," he said, whose team is now just 19 points clear of Force India in the constructors' championship."

"We have got to bring our new parts along - we have a new floor in Hungary, which is quite good.

Despite the flow of upgrades, Symonds is confident that the team are not compromising their 2017 chances by continuing to work on this year's car.

"We are pretty near the end of aerodynamic development now because the new car needs to be in the wind tunnel," he said. "That doesn't mean there won't be more parts coming because they are in the pipeline, and it doesn't stop you working on other areas."

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • Can a floor really help them that much? Im a bit disappointed in that Williams hasnt delivered the promised challenge against Red Bull.

    • + 0
    • Jul 19 2016 - 19:48

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar