Claire Williams predicts 'incredibly challenging' year

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams has predicted that the team faces an 'incredibly challenging' year this season as they attempt to consolidate their position in the middle of the field up against the likes of resurgent McLaren and the Renault works team.

In the past couple of campaigns, Force India have finished fourth behind the three major teams of Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. Williams has suggested that the team now have the resources to become 'the best of the rest' behind the top three once again and perhaps even contest for winning podiums, even if it will be 'incredibly challenging'.

“I think it’s going to be incredibly challenging this year,” she told ESPN.

“McLaren has its new engine and Renault has invested heavily within the infrastructure in its team, I think there’s going to be a lot more competition out there, unfortunately, this year.

But then it’s our responsibility that they don’t overtake us in the championship, and equally, we’ve got Force India who is a fantastic team and absolutely deserve their P4 last year.”

Williams did not go as far as to give exact targets or predictions for the season, but thinks it is very important the team do not drop below fifth in the constructor rankings.

“For us it’s about what we need to change and we are a big team and have been in the sport for more than 40 years now and we have the infrastructure, we have the people, we have 700 people working on our racing team and we should be able to deliver a competitive race car. Tlly what we have to be aiming for.

"I’m not hat’s reagoing to set any targets, I think it’s dangerous to do so, but we can’t finish P5 or lower this year.”