GPUpdate.net resumes its end-of-season review with Williams, which remained in fifth, but with fewer points, courtesy of the un-retired Felipe Massa and rookie Lance Stroll.
Williams
Championship: 5th
WCC points: 83
Best race: 3rd (1 x STR)
Best qualifying: 4th (1 x STR)
Fastest laps: 0
Qualifying duel: MAS 17 – 2 STR, STR 1 – 0 DIR
This was a peculiar campaign for Williams, in which its performances fluctuated, its development was so-so, but remained fifth, perhaps never fully understanding whether its drivers extracted the maximum from the FW40. Williams began stronger than it finished, and typically reached its high points at power circuits and low-grip venues, while struggling at high-downforce venues (and in the wet); essentially a repeat of previous seasons, only further down the field. Williams scored points in 17 of the 20 Grands Prix, but only once broke into the top five – Lance Stroll’s Azerbaijan podium – and struggled for one-lap pace mid-season, suffering multiple double Q1 exits. Williams profited from the V6 power units in 2014 but has now slipped back and faces a crossroads of sorts, perhaps exemplified by its indecisiveness over Stroll’s 2018 team-mate.
Felipe Massa
Championship: 11th
WDC points: 43
Best R result: 6th (2x)
Best Q result: 6th (2x)
Massa finished his final Formula 1 season (probably) just three points clear of rookie team-mate Stroll, but that statistic belief the gulf in performance between the pair. Massa, having come out of retirement for 2017, was beaten by Stroll just twice times over one lap and on average held a 0.7s advantage. A slow puncture cost Massa points in Russia, an early clash with Alonso in Spain further compromised prospects, as did being wiped out by Carlos Sainz Jr. in Canada. He was also on course for a podium, and potentially a win, when his suspension failed in Azerbaijan. Early drives in Australia and Bahrain were superb, as was his swansong on home soil, delivering seventh position, as he amassed 13 points finishes compared to Stroll’s seventh. Massa claimed to be driving better than ever, reinvigorated by 2017’s cars, but without a true benchmark it’s difficult to fully analyse, considering his 2016 match-up versus Valtteri Bottas, and there were still the archetypal Massa errors (see: Belgium FP1 shunt). Nevertheless, he can bow out with his head held high.
High point: Stellar drive to seventh in Brazil
Low point: Retiring from strong position in Azerbaijan
Lance Stroll
Championship: 12th
WDC points: 40
Best R result: 3rd (1x)
Best Q result: 4th (1x)
Stroll’s financial background undoubtedly swayed his graduation to Formula 1 but he arrived as the reigning Formula 3 champion, with vast experience in a 2014-spec car, and produced one of the most perplexing campaigns in years. While a deficit to Massa can be forgiven, his one-lap pace was dreadful, and showed little signs of improving, leaving him on the back foot for races. His use of tyres was, at times (Spain, Abu Dhabi) shocking, and there were some silly errors. And yet. He was strong all weekend in Azerbaijan, and while fortunate with the podium, avoided the trouble which befell others and put himself in the position in the first place. His recovery drive in Canada was sublime, his display in Italy’s wet qualifying session – resulting in a front-row start – utterly brilliant, and race approach in Mexico was perfectly executed. From dreadful to delightful, the inconsistent nature of Stroll’s campaign, even accounting for his rookie status, feistier cars, and Pirelli’s tricky tyres, was baffling.
High point: Capturing podium finish in Azerbaijan
Low point: Abject display through Abu Dhabi weekend
Paul di Resta
Championship: NC
WDC points: 0
Best R result: DNF (1x)
Best Q result: 19th (1x)
The sight of di Resta climbing into the cockpit of Williams’ FW40 for Q1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix was one of the unexpected sub-plots of the season, after Felipe Massa failed to shake off the unwell feeling that had plagued him throughout the weekend’s build-up. Di Resta had experience of the Hungaroring, but with no previous time in the FW40, little understanding of Pirelli’s notoriously tricky tyres, and Williams’ traditional difficulties at the circuit, di Resta put in a competent display. Having improved with each Q1 laps, di Resta wound up seven-tenths behind Stroll – which was roughly the average deficit the Canadian faced against Massa. In race trim, di Resta performed admirably, despite receiving the ire of Kimi Räikkönen, before an oil leak forced him out.
High point: Solid improvements through Q1
Low point: Failing to reach the chequered flag
Statistics
Average qualifying gap: 0.702s (in Massa’s favour)
Biggest qualifying gap: 2.044s to Massa in Australia
Smallest qualifying gap: 0.045s to Stroll in Azerbaijan
Average qualifying result: Massa 10.68, Stroll 14.9, Di Resta 19
Retirements:
Massa 2
Stroll 4
Di Resta 1
Race head-to-head: Massa 9 – 3 Stroll
Source :http://feeds.gpupdate.net
Comments
