Massa: Spain is a bit like everyone’s national GP

Williams is in difficulty at the start of the season since it only occupies 5th place in the Manufacturers' Championship with only 5 points ahead of Toro Rosso. While the Spanish GP played this weekend in Barcelona marks the start of the European season, the teams are eager to test the major developments that accompany this part of the year.

Felipe Massa hopes in particular to achieve a good result on the Catalunya circuit where the teams have as much data as possible after winter testing.

“Most drivers know the track well. It’s a bit like a national Grand Prix for everyone because we always test here. You need a lot of aero support for the fast sectors and good traction for the last sector. We had some good winter testing this year, but now is where performance counts. I hope to have a good weekend avoiding unfortunate incidents like those experienced in Sochi”, declared Felipe Massa.

Felipe Massa was in fact able to take 6th place at the Russian GP before suffering a puncture at the end of the race, dropping him to 9th position. His teammate Lance stroll was not more successful since he was the victim of initial contact with the Renault RS 17 Nico Hulkenberg condemning him to 11th place for his first Grand Prix finish.

« I have never competed in a race on this circuit even though I know it well from having tested there in different disciplines such as Formula Renault 2.0 and F3, without obviously forgetting the winter tests in F1, added the Canadian. I like this track, especially the first sector with high speeds in the first three or five turns. The last sector is conversely more winding and technical. The track remains demanding. »

A full-scale test

Paddy Lowe, technical director of Williams Racing, also expresses his impatience to see the FW40 evolve on the Catalan track, the track clearly highlighting the potential of the single-seaters.

“This is when we make the first major changes which will be even more important this year with the new regulations, recalled the former thinking head of Mercedes GP. The circuit offers an interesting challenge to the performance of the car, particularly in terms of aero in turns 3 and 9 and the suspension in the 3rd sector. We didn't get the points we were aiming for in Russia, but we can see the potential of the car. The objective is to finish with both drivers in the points in Spain. »