Smedley: Williams looking to make step forward

Williams are continually searching for ways to improve away from the track, according to performance chief Rob Smedley.

The British team appear to have taken a step backwards this season after pushing Mercedes as the second fastest car in 2014, and as the third fastest car in 2015.

But Smedley insists they are working back towards that with small improvements in research and development, including the addition of ex-Ferrari tyre guru Antonio Spagnolo.

"There's a lot of other stuff we need to do, and in the background of R&D as well,” he said.

"It's not just about what we're doing on a weekend and the day-to-day survival, but also about putting medium/long-term research and development in place that will bear fruit.

"It's to take us out of the performance field where we are now and on to the next level.

"So it's not really just about trying to maximise what we've got, but looking where the next area of performance is.

"He will help us do that, along with his group, and we've some good young people in there, we've identified talents around Williams and outside of Williams.

"We're still actively recruiting and expanding.

"There's also a real long-term structure as to what we're doing with tyres, in terms of personnel and infrastructure.

"That's really the mentality the team has to have if we want to move forward."

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