Vowles 'impressed' by Mercedes and Red Bull's Barcelona performance

Williams team principal James Vowles was "impressed" with multiple teams' performance in Barcelona, but at the same time emphasized that the pecking order will only become clear at a later stage.

"It's a shakedown, so there's not a lot I can tell you about what's happening," Vowles said in a conversation with a select group of media, including GPblog.

“Albeit, I'm very impressed with a few of you of how you've managed to sneak into bits of the circuit. Well done to some of you, certainly, in that circumstance,” the team boss continued, referring to several journalists and fans who, despite the security measures taken around the circuit for the test to remain private, still managed to obtain footage and lap times.

Although Williams did not take part in the winter test in Barcelona, the team did have people on-site. “Yes, I have boots on the ground and individuals there. It won't be a surprise to any of you, but I actually think we're set up for a good championship.”

Vowles praises Mercedes and Red Bull

According to Vowles, Mercedes made an especially strong start. “I think Mercedes are doing well out of the box running for the timetable they said they would, the amount of mileage they said they would is very impressive from the get-go,” he explained.

He also praised Red Bull Racing, precisely because of the scale of the challenge they face with their own power units.

“But equally Red Bull, given they've produced a power unit from scratch and that really cannot be underestimated, they did a brilliant job in the number of laps they completed,” Vowles emphasized.

Williams team principal James Vowles - Photo: RacePictures

Ferrari, according to the Williams boss, also belongs in that group. “Then as final is Ferrari, which is exactly the same thing. Again, pretty impressive from the get-go.”

At the same time, the Briton warned against attaching too much value to lap times in Spain. “The times in Barcelona are going to be largely irrelevant. It's really only in Bahrain that you'll start to see it.”

Williams itself did not participate during this week's pre-season test, after the team previously announced it had encountered delays in the development of the new car. The Grove-based team is now focusing entirely on a later shakedown and the tests in Bahrain.

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