Claire Williams praises Williams team spirit after tough 2019

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams has thanked the team for 'the fighting spirit they have shown in what’s been a challenging time for us'.

The 2019 season was the worst season in the history of the Formula One world championship. Scoring just a single-point across the year, Robert Kubica finishing tenth in the German Grand Prix, Williams has thanked the team for not downing tools despite the difficult situation.

“The entire team at Grove have worked tirelessly over the winter to get the FW43 ready for when the lights went green in Barcelona today," said Williams. "We have spent a significant amount of time and resource analysing our weaknesses over the past 12 months so that we can make progress in 2020 and beyond and I know everyone in the team will have been delighted to see their car out on track today.

"I thank everyone enormously for their hard work, dedication and the fighting spirit they have shown in what’s been a challenging time for us.”

Williams retained the services of Mercedes junior driver George Russell, but replaced Kubica with rookie driver Nicholas Latifi.

“We have a new driver line-up this year with Nicholas Latifi stepping up from the Reserve Driver role to partner George Russell, who heads into his second year in F1.

"Both drivers have worked extremely hard over the winter to prepare for the season ahead and I know will give it their all."

Formula One preseason testing for the 2020 season began on Wednesday morning in Barcelona with all ten teams taking to the track and clocking up early mileage.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Jeremy Clarkson tells Brits they've got Max Verstappen all wrong

• Yesterday 23:14

Hamilton vs Verstappen Silverstone incident just 'set a new F1 precedent'

• Yesterday 22:29

Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, silly season rumours and F1 reality

• Yesterday 21:42

Fixing Aston Martin: F1 insider's theory on what went wrong and how Newey will put it right

• Yesterday 20:58

FIA verdict reveals awkward Abu Dhabi 2021 truth

• Yesterday 19:44

Max Verstappen and Red Bull tension reaches 'boiling point' as exit rumours swirl

• Yesterday 18:45