Williams confirm they have no interest in becoming an F1 B-team amid speculation over future

Williams F1 Team confirm they have no interest in becoming a Formula 1 B-team, despite several mid-table teams forming partnerships with Championship leaders.

Formula One is launching itself into uncharted territory with a new era of cost cutting controls and a budget cap for all teams. It is for this reason; several teams are forming partnerships to co-operate with each other.

Currently seven of the ten teams on the grid share some form of partnership with another. Currently Red Bull share a partnership with Alpha Tauri, Ferrari work with both Haas and Alfa Romeo, and Mercedes are partnered with Racing Point, which F1 fans have nicknamed 'the pink Mercedes'.

Williams F1 were founded by motorsport legend Frank Williams and British engineer Patrick head in 1977. Since then, Williams have become one of the most successful teams within F1, winning nine Constructors titles and seven drivers titles.

However, Williams have dramatically fallen down the grid since their halcyon days in the 80s and 90s, with the team finishing last in the constructors championship for the last three seasons, accumulating only eight points in that time.

Williams have been adamant on protecting their history as a solely independent Formula One team, new Team principal Simon Roberts stated:

"We can see advantages, but we don't want to become a B-team. We want to retain our independence, but we want to be more competitive. So, for us, looking forward, we're open to extending a relationship but that would depend on what we think we're strong at, and where we think we need help and support."

"Really this year is part of a long-term strategy, and that will build slowly over the next five years. The main thing is, we want to invest wisely. We don't want to make mistakes."

Williams will line-up with the same driver partnership of George Russell and Nicolas Latifi for season 2021. George Russell came so close to his first victory in Formula One while racing for Mercedes while champion Lewis Hamilton was in isolation with Covid-19.

However, a severe pit stop error left Russell with two different tyre sets on the car and a puncture took the lead away in the harshest of circumstances.

Nicolas Latifi impressed in stages throughout his rookie season in F1, and he will hope to provide more consistent performances in F1 next season.