Williams development more important than early speed

Williams team principal and CEO Jost Capito has insisted the team's rate of development on the new-for-2022 car is more important than its initial speed.

F1 has introduced radically altered regulations for the upcoming season with aerodynamic components stripped from the top face of the vehicle in favour of an attempt to create downforce underneath the car.

This has meant a complete redesign of machinery for the new campaign with a reset of the pecking order touted after teams split strategies last year on when to switch development focus to the new car.

Whilst many will aim to be fast from the very first lap, Capito believes the rate of development will be key to any success in the new era.

"Sure, that is an opportunity with the new regulations, but it's very unknown," he told GPFans in an end-of-season interview.

"Every team did its own objectives, what they want out of the car.

"For me, what counts more is the development speed, and the progress you make through next season instead of where you kick-off, and what we look to develop a car that we understand, it's not too complicated and a car that has lots of potential to develop in various directions.

"Then, I think it's pure speculation where you kick-off, but from then, the team has to be in the position to catch up the development and be fast in moving the car forward. I think that it's more important than the initial 'how the car is coming off of the blocks'."

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