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.

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