It has been a fairly anti-climactic start to the 2015 season for Williams F1. After such a successful 2014 campaign, the Oxfordshire based outfit were expecting to be even closer to Mercedes in 2015, rather than having another team ahead of them. A string of top 6 positions confirms that the Martini car is the third fastest on the grid this year but last year has definitely left the team wanting more.
2015 Spanish Grand Prix Williams Preview: Return to form?
The podium has been dominated by Mercedes and Ferrari so far this season meaning the likes of Williams and Red Bull haven’t had a look in. Valtteri Bottas’ back problems in the early races haven’t helped the team’s efforts. Despite these hindrances, the Finn and his Brazilian team mate – Felipe Massa – have remained positive they can close the gap to the top two teams and challenge for victories later in the season. The last race at the Sakhir circuit showed that the FW37 can at least keep an SF 15-T at bay when Bottas defended valiantly against Sebastian Vettel for around 20 laps.
The Spanish grand prix will be the first opportunity for major upgrades in 2015, this could help to close the gap between teams such as Williams and Ferrari and hopefully produce some closer racing. Catalunya is also the site of Pastor Maldonado’s win with Williams in 2012 so it is a positive track for the team. Last year Bottas qualified fourth and finished fifth while Massa qualified ninth and finished 13th, so that wasn’t the strongest weekend of 2014 for the team.
As we begin the European season are Williams set to return to their 2014 form or are they destined to be third best this year?
