Williams is considering a closer relationship with Mercedes to help avoid a repeat of their problems at the start of 2019.
Despite their lack of performance, the Grove-based team has refrained from replicating the ‘B-team’ model as used by Haas with Ferrari and Toro Rosso with Red Bull.
But as they negotiate a new supply deal with Mercedes, despite earlier rumours of a Renault change, the lessons from last winter could lead to some changes.
“We went through a process of evaluation last year and we’re doing the same this year off the back of what happened to us at testing, to work out what we should make versus buy,” deputy team boss Claire Williams explained at Silverstone.
“It’s an important piece of work that we concluded. We will now make our decisions around what we will be doing ourselves versus outsourcing, whether that be with Mercedes or alternate suppliers.
“It’s all just dependent on the capacity that we have at Williams and what we do best, versus what other people may do better.”
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Something all midfield teams need to consider is the massive regulation changes coming for 2021, and how they can best capitalise from the competitive shake-up that will follow.
However, included in those changes, are attempts to make the ‘B-team’ model less favourable.
“Obviously we want to dial down those collaborations at Williams, we’re an independent constructor,” Williams stated.
“I think everybody knows my position on collaborations, and I believe that teams should make and design and manufacture their race cars themselves, certainly design the race cars themselves.
“I’d like to see those technical regulations coming out with a greater bias that supports independent constructors like how our business model is.”
