© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Williams’ Head of Vehicle Performance Dave Robson says George Russell suggested several improvements to the team after he returned from his Mercedes drive.
Russell had the opportunity to drive the championship winning Mercedes at the Sakhir Grand Prix, after Lewis Hamilton contracted COVID-19. After a fantastic performance he had to return to Williams just a week later. Williams’ Dave Robson says Russell immediately had suggestions on how to improve the FW43.
“It’s something he’s mentioned,” Robson explained.
“He did a particularly good [start in the Mercedes], and he has had some good starts in our car, but I think what we’re lacking is the consistency.
“It’s probably as much down to what they do on their car, than it is the driver. So he’s got some ideas, particularly about how he might like to change the clutch paddle, so the sort of ergonomics of what they do. That’s something we can look at over the winter.
“I think probably the whole drivetrain systems are a bit too different, but what tends to be more interesting is the tyre preparation and how you understand the grip that you’re going to have at the start: and therefore what the clutch target is.
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“There’s probably something for us to learn about there I think.”
Due to the differences between Williams’ and Mercedes’ cars, Robson says his team cannot adopt some of Mercedes’ solutions, but can learn from their performance concepts.
“The fundamental car pace is probably so different, so we can’t just make our car like there’s, as simply as he would obviously like.
“But once we sit down with him properly, we may change the way we prioritise things.”
