Williams explains 'disappointing' Monaco GP result

The Williams Formula 1 team fears it missed an opportunity in the Monaco Grand Prix after showing promising signs of improvements across the weekend, only to ultimately end in disappointment. 

Williams has endured a dire start to 2018 and sits bottom of the constructors’ standings having scored just four points from six races, though the Grove-based squad enjoyed an improved showing in Monaco as Sergey Sirotkin pulled off an impressive qualifying to secure 13th position on the grid. 

But Sirotkin was hit by a 10-second stop-go penalty after it was found his tyres were fitted too late on the grid prior to the start of the race, with the Russian rookie finishing 16th, while teammate Lance Stroll suffered two punctures and was forced into a three-stop strategy as he crossed the line two laps down in 17th and last.

“A hugely disappointing day because we’d had a pretty promising weekend so far, certainly with Sergey starting in a better grid position than we’ve had more recently,” Williams technical chief Paddy Lowe explained. 

“Unfortunately, we suffered a wheel assembly problem on the grid with Sergey’s car which meant we fitted the wheels after the three-minute deadline. Consequently, he was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty which put him half a lap adrift of the pack. His race was ruined from that point on. 

“He spent the afternoon in that situation suffering constant blue flags,” he added. “We converted to a two-stop strategy as that is actually the quickest race if you’re not holding a position. It was good to see that he could put in some quick laps at the end whilst in free air.”

Lowe said Stroll’s puncture had been caused by overheating brakes, adding Williams failed to properly manage the problem, which manifested again later in the race and caused a second puncture. 

“On Lance’s side, he had a puncture on lap nine due to the brakes becoming too hot, which overheated the rim and caused the failure.” he revealed. “We failed to control that on the second set of tyres and he suffered another puncture. The issue was managed for the rest of the race, but with so many pitstops and blue flags, Lance was in no position to make any progress.”

Stroll said the issues prevented him from being able to race as he labelled his Monaco Grand Prix as “terrible”. 

“It was a pretty terrible day - I got a puncture on lap nine and lost a bunch of time, like a lap, just getting to the pits. After that I was busy letting cars through with blue flags as I was a lap down," Stroll explained.

"Then we had temperature problems all race, and I was told to give gaps and let cars by, so there was not much of an opportunity and we just weren't racing today.”

But Sirotkin is remaining positive about Williams’ chances, having seen clear signs of improvements across the Monte Carlo weekend.

“We had a car that was definitely allowing me to fight,” Sirotkin said. “I think we had the pace, the car really had the pace and I think we had a good chance to be in the points, but a bit of bad luck with the penalty following what went wrong on the grid. 

“I think we showed a good improvement in qualifying. We showed a good improvement in the pace within the race itself. We’ll just keep working, harder and harder, and we’ll get there.”