Head of Performance Engineering with Williams Martini Racing, Rob Smedley, has said that the team’s in-season test programme has been a “success”.
The team went into the two day test planning to focus their efforts on aero development for the 2019 car, as well as other developments for the remainder of this season, including set up and tyre preparations.
In the car was Pole Robert Kubica, the team’s Reserve and Development driver, who hit the headlines in 2011 due to a rally crash which caused severe injury to his right arm. His Reserve and Development driver role is rumoured to be part of a staged return to Formula 1.
Kubica ran a total of one-hundred-and-three laps over the course of the final day of testing after taking over driving duties from Official Young Driver Oliver Rowland, with his fastest lap being a 1:18.451, and Smedley said the two-day in Hungary was a good way to head into the summer break.
“We have ended what has been a successful test. We came here to predominately concentrate on 2019 aero specification and we have carried out every single item on the test programme regarding 2019 that we set out to, and some more,” said Smedley.
“The engineering team and mechanics couldn’t have worked any harder and have done a great job. We need to go away now and use all the data to help us with correlation for 2019 regulations. Additionally, we had a look at the remainder of the season, some set up, some tyre preparation work and we have some interesting directions from there.
“Robert set some good lap times considering the tyres we gave him and the time in the car. Overall, it’s a good way to go into the summer break for the team.”
