Williams: 'Long way' to go for team to return to top of Formula 1

Williams said they still have a long way to go to return to the top of Formula 1 as they launched their new car at Silverstone on Tuesday.

The multiple champions finished eighth last season, the first time for three years the team has not been last.

New rules have been introduced in F1 this year to make the field more competitive.

«To get the team back to where we want to be, from where it was, is a long way,» said team principal Jost Capito.

«It's not something we can fix in one year.»

The German — a former VW executive who was recruited by Williams' new owners a year ago to mastermind the team's recovery from a bleak period — said that Williams still lack resources compared with the top teams, and that it would take time for the effect of the new rules and budget cap to make a difference.

«Compared to the top teams, we still were lacking,» Capito said. «We didn't have investment before the last year, and over the last year investment was limited by the cost cap.

»Progress will be [measured by] how we can improve compared to competition through the season, wherever we start the season."

Williams initially unveiled their new livery on Tuesday on a show car, before running the definitive new FW44 at Silverstone and releasing pictures of it.

The shakedown test was delayed by an electronics problem, but both drivers tried the car in wet conditions in the afternoon.

Williams have a new driver this year in Anglo-Thai Alexander Albon, a replacement for George Russell who has moved to Mercedes. Canadian Nicholas Latifi continues in the other car.

Capito said he was confident Albon — who had two seasons with the Red Bull teams in 2019 and 2020 before being demoted to their reserve driver in 2021 — was a strong choice.

«I believe he grew a