Williams Racing’s Head of Vehicle Performance has reflected on a tough weekend of running at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Dave Robson was keen to praise both drivers’ efforts throughout the race as tyre degradation stunted any possible progress around the Hungaroring.
After another disappointing qualifying session for Williams Racing, which saw both drivers knocked out in Qualifying One, both Nicholas Latifi and Alex Albon were looking to make up for their shortcomings in qualifying.
However, contact for both drivers on the opening lap saw Albon have to dive into the pits for a new front wing while Latifi continued but with damage to his FW44.
After a compromised start to the Grand Prix, any possible chance of the points was reliant on a possible rain shower. Despite the threat of rain throughout the Grand Prix, no shower ever materialised around the Hungaroring.
Williams Racing opted to avoid the hard tyre completely during the Grand Prix but the team still failed to make up any of the ground they lost from the opening lap.
Alex Albon brought home his FW44 in seventeenth place, while his teammate Nicholas Latifi was one place behind in eighteenth.
“Unfortunately, the rain was never enough to affect the race and with both cars suffering damage on the 1st lap, we were forced into a difficult race.
“Alex had to box for a new front wing on lap 2 and although Nicky was able to continue, the damage to his wing did cost him performance for the rest of the race.
“All the tyre compounds were difficult today with many drivers unhappy about at least one of their choices. We opted to avoid the Hard tyre, which offered poor pace, and this required a very disciplined race from both drivers.”
With a near month-long break from Formula One action as the summer break starts, Robson is already looking forward to the Belgian Grand Prix where he hopes the team’s fortunes will start to turn around.
“It has been a challenging weekend and we are now looking forward to a break from the track. When the 2nd half of the season starts in a few weeks’ time the races come quickly, starting in Belgium. Fortunately, Spa is a very different track to the Hungaroring and we are looking forward to being more competitive there.”
