#picoftheday: The Williams Mercedes FW36

Valtteri Bottas

Exclusive Claire Williams Q&A: Don't rule us out in Abu Dhabi

Claire Williams

While most eyes will be on the Mercedes title fight next weekend, the Abu Dhabi season finale also represents Williams' last chance to add a race win to what has already been their best campaign in over a decade. And it's a chance they are determined to take.

Deputy team principal Claire Williams speaks about the team's stunning 2014 turnaround, their plans for a 2016 championship challenge, why talk of signing Fernando Alonso was wide of the mark, and why they could yet play 'kingmaker' at Yas Marina...

Q: Claire, Brazil was another podium weekend for Williams - this time through Felipe Massa, and in front of his home crowd. Can you really believe what has happened at Williams in the last 12 months? You have jumped from ninth in the constructors' standings to third...
Claire Williams: Ha, if you had said to any of us this time last year, when we had scored our first multiple points - four to be precise - in the United States Grand Prix, that we would be in P3 at this time next year, I don't think we would have believed it. But the team has done a fantastic job to effect this turnaround and I am so proud of everybody involved. It is the reward of all our hard work. But as Frank [Williams] always says, 'It is P3 - we have got to win!' So it would be wonderful to end this year with a race win. With how it is now, I think people in the team will be disappointed if we don't win a race - but everybody has to remember where we came from. 

Q: There is only one race left...
CW: …and we've shown that we have a car that is consistent at every race track, so I don't see why there shouldn't be an opportunity for us. Sure, it will depend on circumstances, as both Mercedes are hard to beat - but why not?

Q: A Williams victory, or a second place, in Abu Dhabi has the potential to influence who wins the 2014 title - and Nico Rosberg says he has to motivate Felipe…
CW: Oh, that's put the pressure on us. But when it happens it happens - that's Formula One. 

Q: Williams could be the 'kingmaker'...
CW: Funny… I haven't thought about that. 

Felipe

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#picoftheday : Williams Team Work

Williams Team Work

Massa: Miért vonulnék vissza ......?

A 33 esztendős tapasztalt pilóta 2002 óta versenyez a Forma-1-ben. Tavaly év végén távoznia kellett a Ferraritól, de a Williams mentőövet dobott neki, többek között a szponzori hátterének köszönhetően is.

Fotó: DPPI

A brit istálló egy nagyon gyenge évet zárt 2013-ban, de 2014-re a Mercedes motorokkal teljesen más formát mutatnak, és egy futammal a szezon vége előtt a csapat ott van a harmadik helyen, közvetlen a Ferrari előtt.

Tekintve Sir Frank Williams istállójának idei teljesítményét és a Ferrari szenvedését, nem lehet kérdés, hogy ki szerzi meg a harmadik helyet a bajnok Mercedes és a második Red Bull mögött. Természetesen óvatosnak kell lennünk ezzel kapcsolatban, mivel Abu Dhabiban dupla pontokat osztanak ki.

Massa pillanatnyilag a 8. helyen áll az egyéni versenyben 98 ponttal a neve mellett, míg a finn csapattárs 6. 156 egységgel. Felipe jövőre is a Williams versenyzője lesz, de nem zárta ki annak a lehetőségét, hogy 2016-ban is az F1-ben maradjon.
Tovább >>>>

„Öreg rókának számítok már ebben a sportban.” – mondta nevetve a brazil média előtt Massa.

Ice water

SPA, BELGIUM - AUGUST 23: Felipe Massa of Brazil and Williams and Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Williams pour ice water over Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams in the paddock as she takes part in an ice bucket challenge after qualifying ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 23, 2014 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)