Australian GP: FP2 and no change for Williams Racing
By Andrew Hooper
March 15 2019
The second Friday practice session for the 2019 Australian GP would see no chnage in the situation for ROKiT Williams Racing. George Russell and Robert Kubica would finish 19th and 20th. Both drivers would complete soft tyre runs early in the session followed by a split strategy for the longer runs late in the session with George using the medium tyre and Robert the hard. Both drivers would admit that there are issues but George was confident that the car is a good base for development.
ROKiT Williams
Australian GP Friday 2nd Practice
Team Summary:
The opening Friday practice for the 2019 Australian GP would see both
Williams drivers at the bottom of the times with a considerable margin to
the cars in front. Now it was the second ninety minute session and the
question was whether there would be any improvement. The first time of the
session was a 1m:25.634 from Grosjean. The track would become quite busy
with both Williams cars running. A 1m:24.984 from Grosjean set on the medium
tyre but his team-mate would set a 1m:24.409 while the Williams drivers were
again slowest in the order. Both would pit after a six lap runs. Hamilton
and Bottas would go quickest with the fastest time now a 1m:23.206 using the
medium tyre.
Drivers were now coming out on soft tyres with 55 minutes remaining. Both
Williams drivers were still in their pits. But both would return for runs on
the soft tyre and would improve their times but not their positions. They
would pit after short runs. Quickest now was Bottas with a 1m:22.648 on the
soft tyre. A 1m:22.600 from Hamilton with forty minutes remaining in the
session. It would not be until just under thirty minutes that the Williams
drivers would return on soft tyres but would not improve. Both would pit
returning on the medium and hard tyres for their next runs. Fifteen minutes
remaining and Hamilton was still quickest from Bottas, Verstappen, Gasly,
Vettel and Raikkonen sixth. Both Williams drivers were continue with their
longer runs as the session ended.
Robert Kubica:
Robert would follow his team-mate out for the session except he is on the
hard tyre. Robert would set a 1m:29.941 to be behind his team-mate but he is
on the harder tyre. A 1m:28.469 from Robert having completed four laps.
Another small improvement with a 1m:28.379 as Robert pitted having completed
six laps. Robert would also come back out for a soft tyre run. A 1m:26.655
from Robert seeing him remain 20th. Robert would also pit after a six lap
run. Robert was also to come back out on new soft tyres. But after a short
run he would pit returning on the hard tyre for what would turn out to be a
13 lap run pitting with the end of the session. Robert in a post session
interview would say "We had big problems with general traction in the
morning. We have to draw maximum from what we have. This is the only goal.
We are not able to fight in qualifying. "
George Russell:
George would be the first out for Williams in the session still on the
medium tyre. A 1m:28.808 on his first timed lap. He would improve with a
1m:28.389. A 1m:27.718 from George but he would remain 15th. George would
also pit after a six lap ruin. He would return with just over 50 minutes
remaining using the soft tyre. George would improve with a 1m:26.453 but
remained 19th. George would pit after a four lap run. With just under thirty
minutes remaining George would return on a new set of soft tyres. George
would pit after just a three lap run without any improvement. he would
switch to the medium tyre for a further run. He would complete 14 laps prior
to the end of the session.
In post session interview George
would say: "We have a big loss, but we knew we had problems. We count on
progress in Bahrain and subsequent races. I believe we have a good base for
development and we need to work on the car. It's not as bad as the Times
show... "
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