Williams F1 is a Tragic Case, 2020 Can be Worse Than 2019: Rob Smedley

The Williams F1 team have been enduring one massive nightmare in the 2019 season. However, as the old adage goes, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Though, from a realistic point of view, Williams F1 cannot expect things to get better immediately. The team’s former head of vehicle performance Rob Smedley suspected that it would take a while for Williams to get out of their rut.

The outfit is second most successful in terms of constructors’ titles and have produced a number of champions in their yesteryears. However, the team have not stood on the top step of the podium since 2012. What makes it even more embarrassing is that Williams F1 have scored a paltry eight points in the last two seasons combined.

“There would always be a philosophy that it can’t get any worse,” Smedley told Reuters.

“Having been around the block a few times in motorsport, and Formula One in particular, (I know) the reality is it can get worse than this.

How far did Williams F1 fall in 2019?

Under fire deputy principal Claire Williams even declared that the team had hit ‘rock bottom’ in 2019. Even a young talent like George Russel and an experienced head like Robert Kubica were helpless. For the 2020 season Williams F1 parted way with Kubica and drafted in Canadian rookie Nicholas Latifi to replace him.

Smedley, a former Ferrari engineer, admitted that when he was in Maranello he learned a valuable lesson. He strongly believes that nobody can live on past achievements, and Williams are falling into the same trap.

To make matters worse, Williams F1 have had to watch as some prominent sponsors departed altogether or joined a rival team. Chief among those, were Martini, PKN Orlen and more recently, Rexona. Martini left the sport, while Orlen joined Alfa Romeo and Rexona are heading to McLaren.