2019 F1 Guide: Stemming the downfall is Williams priority

While they will make it to Melbourne this weekend, there's still plenty of work to be done before they’re ready to go racing on Sunday afternoon at Albert Park.

On the other hand, and in their favour, Williams arrive at Albert Park with two drivers motivated to move the team forward. Racing veteran Robert Kubica returns to Formula 1 after eight seasons away from the sport due to a rally injury, partnering British rookie and FIA Formula 2 Champion George Russell.

Paddy Lowe, who messed up last year's car and was late with this year's one, has jumped ship or been pushed, but the plank has been walked and he is 'paddling' somewhere in a dingy while the team he was supposed to save tries not to sink even further.

Apart from being late, the car was two seconds off the pace and a second slower than their closest rivals. Things got even worse when it was discovered that Paddy and his 'wise-men' had not read the rule book and the car sported some pricey bits that have to be lobbed off because they were illegal.

In retrospect, it's hard to think back on a team member who has inflicted so much damage to a racing organisation in so little time.

Whatever the case we know why Lawrence Stroll moved his money away from the team he backed so handsomely at one point, he simply saw no end to the plight of this once mighty team.

Apart from Williams fans and staff, the big victims of this shambles are their respected drivers. Kubica's remarkable story is well told while the fact that Russell is in the team on merit has to count for something but with what they had in Barcelona testing at their disposal they are doomed.

Granted two weeks between the final day of testing and the FP1 is a long time in F1 development timelines, so expect a heavily revised FW42 on the grid in Melbourne. The only problem is that their rivals have also not stood still.

Robert Kubica, Claire Williams and George Russell. Photo: Williams

Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal: Formed by Frank Williams in 1977, Frank’s only daughter Claire took over the hands-on duty as deputy team principal in 2013. Claire began her career in the F1 paddock with Williams as a communications officer in 2002 and worked her way up the ladder to where she is now, the defacto team chief in Sir Frank's absence.

This season for Claire will be about picking up the pieces and try to rebuild the team from stone last to a more respectable place in the pecking order. However, it seems big ask considering the state the team is in now, while too many questions also abound, the big one being: Should Claire step down as deputy team principal of her father's team?

You can't fault her passion or commitment to the family business, and of course they will not fire her and shouldn't because she has the personality and charisma to be part of the team leadership, perhaps on the commercial and/or marketing side of the business while they bring in a technical heavy hitter.

Ouch, they did! On Claire's watch, the big tech guy she chose was Lowe, of course, no one was to know (maybe only Toto...) that the former Merc man was not up to it. But let's face it after last year's FW41 debacle she should have ditched him there and then.

If bringing him on board and handing him shares to the family biz was her call it was a bad one and she should suffer the consequences of what ultimately was a disastrous decision for the team. Allowing things to fester to this point - after all the writing was on the wall a year ago for all to see - is where she failed, she should have seen it coming but didn't by her own admission did not - inexcusable and a fireable offence if she weren't

familia.

George Russell.

Robert Kubica: Not much more can be said of Robert's heroic story, than: show us the money! Has he still got it or is it gone?

It will be fascinating to see how the popular driver fares, but if the team provide him with a lemon he will be incapable of doing anything astounding (as any another driver with a sub-standard car) and will simply be measured up against his rookie teammate which is not why he is coming back to F1 with huge backing from Poland.

Nevertheless, his experience will undoubtedly serve the team well now that they are somewhat headless in the technical department, while his calm and cool demeanour will go a long way to dissipating the tension in the garage that may be caused by underperformance or breakdowns.

One would expect him to be the level head when everyone else is losing theirs. Forza to Robert and may his most excellent journey continue to amaze us.

George Russell: The Formula 2 Champion is on the grid purely on merit. No pay driver with a team which desperately needs all the money they can find shows how much he is respected and appreciated by the team.

By all accounts, he has settled in well and comes with very set ideas on what he needs to go fast, provided his team can supply him with the tools to do so he could be one of the rookies that stands out this year.

Driving for Williams used to be among the biggest of honours, Russell arrives on the scene at the team's lowest level since Sir Frank formed it in the late seventies. How he handles his rookie season, under trying circumstances, will be a true test of character.

As much as F1 needs a strong Williams team, it is hard to imagine them digging themselves out of the hole they are in any time soon, but hopefully with two level headed drivers and a dollop of good fortune they may stem the freefall because they can't sink any lower.