1980 Formula 1 champion Alan Jones has slammed criticism of Claire Williams for her team's problems as "terribly unfair".
The historic British team has been on a steady decline over the few years, dropping from third in the Constructors' standings in 2014 and 2015 to finishing bottom with just a single point last year.
Claire, the daughter of team founder Sir Frank Williams, officially took over the day-to-day running of the team in 2013 and while the slide has taken place under her watch, Jones believes solely blaming her is wrong.
“Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon blaming Claire which is terribly unfair,” the Australian, who won his world title at the team, told the Guardian.
“It is easy pickings for them because she is female which is very, very unfair. She is doing a good job and they will come good.
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“For Williams, from being no-ones, and I mean that, to being a front-running F1 team is an extraordinary feat.
“I hope to Christ they do come good because that’s my family.”
After the low of 2019, testing ahead of the 2020 season has been better for Williams.
But while the times suggest they could lift themselves off the back of the grid, driver George Russell is being realistic.
“No doubt we’re in a better position,” he told RaceFans. “[but] I think realistically we are still the slowest car.
“I’m not going to get carried away with ourselves, but we’ve definitely reduced the gap and that’s all we could have hoped for over the winter and we’ll go to Melbourne and see.
“But like I said, don’t expect to see us in Q2, Q3 sort of thing. We’ve definitely improved but expectations are all under control.”
Asked who he understood Williams' nearest competition to be, Russell added: “I think our closest competitors on paper at the moment are Alfa Romeo."
