Stroll: "Williams' daring car needs more time"
- Published on 22 Mar 2018 10:39
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Lance Stroll has admitted Williams needs "time" to get the most from its 2018 car. Once a stronger force behind the top three teams, the British outfit had a less competitive winter with its new car and young driver lineup of Stroll and rookie Sergey Sirotkin.
"The design of the new car is more daring, and it will take a little more time to get the most out of it," Stroll told the Canadian newspaper La Presse. "The car is already better than last year's, but that's the same for everyone," he added. "We'll only know in Melbourne where we are."
Stroll, still 19, is often dismissed as a 'pay driver', and he admitted that it's "true" that he struggled at times last year alongside Felipe Massa. "But I feel much better in the car now and, with experience, I think I can be much faster," he said.
"It's hard to do well in qualifying when, like me last year, the day ends in Q1 or Q2. It's hard to get used to the tyres and find the limit of the car when you only have one or two laps to do it. But I now know more about what to expect, so I think I can do a lot better in qualifying," Stroll added.
He also said he has learned a lot about setting up the car and finding a good balance, and is therefore ready to be the most experienced Williams driver. "Sergey and I have a very experienced team around us, and I'm very comfortable in the team. I know all the circuits and the routine. I will do my best, and I don't see why I will not have a better season than the last. What remains to be seen is if the car will be competitive," Stroll said. (GMM)
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Replies (6)
Login to replyRacetoWin
Posts: 95
I dont believe Williams have shown their hand yet and sandbagged the testing with heavy fuel runs, that being said they were still lapping at the same pace as the mclaren's who were desperate for results to try and lure sponsors. Williams will improve as they develop their new car and mclaren will likely wait to mid season before introducing a chassis upgrade. Mclaren's wait is due to lack of funding and hopes to score points in early rounds vs teams who are bringing new cars that need to developed to achieve ultimate pace. This is why Mclaren and Williams will be fighting it out at the back of the field.
pecking order:
mercedes/Ferrari
Redbull
HAAS/Torro Rosso
Force india/Renault
Williams/Mclaren
Sauber
With Mclaren's lack of top speed during testing and using mostly last years car they might drop out of the race just to save their engine and wait until they are more competitive.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Hm, Switch Renault and TR, and McLaren and Force India, and you'd have my pecking order.
Harryw
Posts: 107
I’d be very surprised if that was the order. For me it’s merc, red bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Haas, force India, Toro Rosso, Williams, Sauber
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I sincerely doubt McLaren will be faster than Works Renault. Such is the power of a works team. And Haas looked stronger than McLaren to boot. Force India vs TR is interesting, mind.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It'll need more than time. Gone are the days when Williams could rely on that rad Merc' unit to catch some decent points.
juju_hound
Posts: 180
Have you heard about Villeneuves comments about Kubica saboting development of the car to drivers struggle so he could jump in the race car? He is still suffering 2006 year when Robert kicked him out...