Williams chief operations engineer Mark Gillan predicts strong results in coming races – Formula 1
Williams chief operations engineer Mark Gillan thinks that the team can be strong at any circuit in the 2012 season.
Williams has sprung a surprise in the current season as went on to win its first Grand Prix since 2004. Pastor Maldonado drove well in the Spanish GP to win the race. The season has been very unpredictable because of some regulations changes made by FIA
that has led the teams to be very close to each other in terms of technology and the competition has become fierce.
Credit cannot be taken away from either Maldonado or Williams for coming up with a car and the driving skills to win a Grand Prix. It was the Venezuelan’s maiden victory. Some have suggested that it was a one off win but Maldonado has shown in brief bursts
he has the tenacity to win races but needs to control his wild streak to be more consistent.
During the European Grand Prix Maldonado drove the Williams car to fourth place and was fighting it out with Lewis Hamilton for the third place. Hamilton’s tyres were worn out and it was only a matter of time before the McLaren would have given way to Maldonado,
but the Venezuelan hurried in to overtake from the outside of the turn and at the apex of turn 13 collided with the Brit.
Maldonado finished the race at 10th place while the collision ended Hamilton’s race. The stewards penalised 20 seconds to Maldonado and he lost the one point he secured in the race.
Gillan thinks that the car is good enough to be good on any track and the team will be hoping repeat performances of the Spanish GP in the coming races.
He said, “Everything is so tight that the aero development is very crucial, but also so is understanding how to operate the car and put it in the right window. If you have more downforce and less drag it's always easier.”
“I think this season will be a cracker in terms of a development race right to the end, and obviously if you're pushing that then something may give somewhere else. No team has got infinite resources,” he added. “Give Frank nothing; he'd be very happy if
we could do well at Silverstone. I wouldn't say there's more pressure, but certainly within the team there's a desire - at every race we go to - to improve.”
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