For a team with the history of Williams an eighth place in the constructors’ classification should not represent a milestone to celebrate, but after a three-year period of bitter disappointments, missed tests, seasons without points and repeated last places in the championship, 2021 has finally brought smiles and hopes to Grove. Certainly thanks to that little gem of a pilot that responds to the name of George Russell, now departed for the golden shores of Mercedes, but also for a single-seater finally up to the competition and a team capable of turning the opportunities presented before him into gold.
Celebrating Russell’s second place finish at the controversial Belgian GP weekend is easy and easy. It is true that Spa’s’ no-race ‘had a huge weight in the duel with Alfa Romeo to occupy eighth place in the constructors’ classification, but it must be recognized by the English team – which this year also had to say goodbye to its legendary founder, Sir Frank Williams – for having built the overtaking on the Biscione especially in chaotic weekend in Budapest, where Latifi and Russell respectively conquered seventh and eighth place at the finish line, capitalizing on the misadventures of others – including the disqualification of Vettel – breaking a ‘top-10 curse’ that had lasted since the 2019 German GP.
Overall, Williams had one at their disposal for the entire season less competitive car than Alfa Romeo, but at the bottom of the grid you need to know how to make the strategy work and above all to seize the few opportunities you have. In these two aspects, the team managed by Jost Capito proved to be much more ready and prepared than their colleagues from Hinwil. The real test, however, will be 2022: without Russell’s talent – replaced by Alex Albon – and with a new regulation to be interpreted, the real victory would be to get significantly closer to the other teams in the middle of the group. To ensure that this year’s eighth place is a starting point and not an arrival point.
Williams, 23 points. 8th place. Average: 1.05 points. In 2020: 10th place
Rating: 7 | Light at the end of the tunnel
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