Claire Williams: Massa and Bottas are “essential”

Achieving its best season since 2007, the Williams team surprises observers. Currently fourth, the Grove team owes much to its driver duo, Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, according to statements from team director Claire Williams, collected by Autosport. She claims they have been essential.

Then she adds: « When we hired Felipe [Massa] last year, it was a clear sign that we are very serious because when you call on a driver of this caliber and with this experience, you send a message.

He was extremely important for the team and the development of the car, but also for galvanizing everyone.

But the former 2008 vice-world champion’s teammate is not to be outdone. She notes that Felipe Massa is very complementary to Valtteri [Bottas], who is now fifth in the championship, having produced fantastic races and demonstrating consistency in his driving. He has done an exceptional job this year, as is the case for both drivers, and we are now truly pleased with our lineup.

The performance director, Rob Smedley, himself a defector from Ferrari, emphasizes the importance of this driver duo in the overall performance of the British team. He is also full of praise: « It’s very important to have drivers who put the team above their personal ambitions, which they both do. It’s also important to have two drivers who work together, and it’s really working well at the moment because we need to keep taking the team in the right direction. There is consistency between the two, and they are quite good in the regularity of their feedback, and the performance we add meets their expectations. »

Let’s recall that during the Malaysian Grand Prix, tension arose between the two drivers following team orders.