George Russell insists that Williams are still targetting improvements in 2019 despite being well off the pace.
The FW42 has left Russell and team-mate Robert Kubica languishing at the back at every event this season and there has been little sign of the team catching the rest of the field, let alone competing for points.
Russell had said previously that the Spanish Grand Prix would offer a clear indication as to whether the team had any hope in 2019, and even though Williams made no clear progress at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Russell still won’t give up hope.
Asked by Motorsport Week if the FW42 could offer Williams anything this season, the Brit said: “I think so yeah. The car is not where we want to be.
“But it’s not like we’re three seconds off the pace and the car feels great.
“The car doesn’t feel good, so there’s hope that if we improve that balance feeling, make it more driveable for myself and Robert then the performance should come.”
Although slowest in qualifying for the Spanish GP, Russell ended FP1 only four tenths down on Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, but the Mercedes junior admitted that it allowed Williams to get their hopes up for the race where both drivers finished at the back and a lap down.
“I think we probably got our hopes up a bit after qualifying,” claimed Russell.
“I think our realistic quali pace was probably not as close as it was.”
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