Alfa Romeo have said they believe George Russell is giving Williams the edge over them at some grand prix this season despite the Switzerland-based team having the more competitive car.
Williams are currently ninth in the F1 Constructors’ Standings, with them yet to score a single point this season.
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Russell has come close on many occasions, including last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, which he finished just outside of a points-paying position.
Alfa Romeo, meanwhile, are eighth in the standings on two points, and they believe that Russell’s exceptional qualifying performances are making the gap between the two teams seem smaller than it actually is.
Commenting on Williams’ 2021 car, Xevi Pujolar, Alfa Romeo’s head of trackside engineering, said: “It’s quick on the straights.
“I can confirm that. Difficult to follow and to pass on the straights, but I think we have a better race car.
“I have to say Russell is quite especially doing a very good job in qualifying and we just need to work harder and match it or do better.
“But overall, I will say that in the race we were generally better in terms of pace.”
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Continuing, Pujolar suggested that Alfa Romeo is close to matching the pace of stronger midfield teams despite them already having a 30-point deficit to seventh-placed Alpine.
“Austria is a specific track and Silverstone [next race] will still not be easy,” he added.
“But you can see that last weekend and this weekend, we can fight with them, we can race them [the midfield cars].
“Not only Russell, but we can fight here with Alpine, with Aston Martin, even one of the AlphaTauris. So everything is very tight.”
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