Photo: RacePictures.

James Vowles provides Williams' driver updates after missing preseason test

20:07, 28 Jan

byBen Hunt

James Vowles says he has the full support of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon - despite their frustrations at missing out on the pre-season test.

Williams boss Vowles said he made the painful decision to sit out of the test in Barcelona this week as the team continues to push the development of this season’s car. However, he said that the team would take part in the Bahrain test days ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.

When asked how the drivers had taken the news, Vowles said both Sainz and Albon understand what the team is trying to achieve by pushing to the limits.

To a select group of media, including GPblog, Vowles explained: “They [the drivers] stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me. They're clearly - as I am - disappointed. They're racing drivers; they want to be out there testing the car, and whilst they're in our driver in-loop simulator in tandem now to increase that programme, it isn't the same.

“But they also both signed up, not for the journey of 12 months, but for a team that wants to fight back up to the top, and some of these dangers I warned both of them of beforehand, and they need to be by my side.

“We are going to push this team to the absolute limit in order to really maximise our journey to the front. Now, clearly this is an output that was on the extreme end, and we have to acknowledge that, but even so, they are very much with the team hand in hand.”

Sainz and Albon have been helping back at the factory

Both Sainz and Albon have been involved in a virtual track testing programme at their Grove HQ, and Vowles says that has proved beneficial.

He added: “Every time we're in the car, they are learning, and we are learning how to optimise the energy usage around the track or even just driving style, and really, I'm talking about small differences.”

Photo: Williams

Still too early to see which team is quickest

Vowles has been keeping an eye on action in Barcelona but says the true picture as to which team has mastered the new set of regulations will not become clear until much closer to the start of the season.

He said: “It's impossible to tell what's going on there [in Barcelona]. I don't know what targets people have set. I think realistically, the car itself is the best I've seen us produce, but that doesn't indicate where it is on the timing sheet. That's what Bahrain and beyond will tell us.”

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