European GP : Williams F1 GP Debrief

The European Grand Prix was a frustrating race for Williams F1. Bruno Senna came away with one world championship point, but many more were on offer until Pastor Maldonado's challenge came to a premature end. Our Chief Operations Engineer Mark Gillan gives us his thoughts.

Mark Gillan, Chief Operations Engineer:

Q: The European Grand Prix promised much for the Williams F1 Team, but ultimately delivered only one point. How would you summarise the competitiveness of the Williams-Renault FW34 this weekend?
MG: We are obviously disappointed not to have capitalised on the pace shown throughout the weekend but we have learnt a great deal at Valencia, especially relating to tyre management.

Q: Your qualifying pace has not quite matched your strong race pace this season. Was Pastor’s third place grid position a sign that this is changing?
MG: Our qualifying pace has improved and Pastor's pole position in Spain and subsequent third position in qualifying in Valencia is testament to that fact.

Q: Pastor received a penalty following a collision with Lewis Hamilton on the penultimate lap, what was your opinion on this?
MG: Obviously the team were disappointed to see one of our cars sustain damage so close to the end of the race when we were showing good pace, but we respect the decision taken by the stewards. Both Pastor and the team have moved on and the focus is now on achieving a good result at Silverstone.

Q: The FW34 was very fast all weekend. Was there a particular aspect of the Valencia Street Circuit that suited the car?
MG: No, not really, as the car seems well suited to most circuits. We have a good base package and with the excellent feedback that our drivers are giving us we are able to selectively develop the car to improve any deficiencies whilst also working on our strengths.

Q: How did the high track temperatures affect tyre wear, particularly for the one-stopping Bruno Senna?
MG: The tyres are sensitive to track temperature so tyre management is of first order importance. In conjunction with his engineers Bruno did a very good job in managing the tyres though the race.

Q: The team’s home race, the British Grand Prix, comes next. What can we expect from the Williams-Renault FW34 at Silverstone?
MG: As per all races the whole team are pushing hard to maximise our performance and deliver a good result, which of course would be extra special given that it is our home grand prix.

Championship Tables After 8 of 20 Races

Drivers
1 F Alonso 	111
2 M Webber 	91
3 L Hamilton	88
4 S Vettel		85
5 N Rosberg 	75
6 K Raikkonen	73
7 R Grosjean	53
8 J Button		49
9 S Perez		39
10 P Maldonado 	29

Constructors
1 Red Bull Racing Renault 	176
2 McLaren Mercedes	 	137
3 Lotus-Renault	 	126
4 Ferrari			122
5 Mercedes		92
6 Sauber Ferrari 		60
7 Williams Renault		45
8 Force India Mercedes	44
9 STR Ferrari 		6
10 Marussia Cosworth	0