George Russell insists he has full confidence Williams will have their new car ready for the 2020 F1 season in time.

The team missed the start of pre-season testing this year as it was late to finish work on its first FW42 chassis. But Russell is sure the team won’t suffer a repeat next season.

“I am 100 percent sure we won’t have the same mistakes again next year as we’ve had this year,” said Russell. “I can bet my house that we will have a car for day one of winter testing next year.”

Asked about his living arrangements Russell jokingly added: “I don’t actually have a house but I’d bet my parents’ house on it!”

The rookie driver expects the progress the team has made since that difficult start to continue in the upcoming off-season.

“I’m sure and I’m very confident we will be more competitive next year,” he said. “We’re on a very good trajectory at the moment. Obviously it’s always easier to improve when you’re starting off at a lower level. But the signs are good at the moment that we’re on a good way.”

Williams have had the slowest car at almost every race so far this season. However Russell says that has allowed them to be more aggressive with their approach to setting the car up.

“This year has given us a really good opportunity to explore a bit more with set-up: [try] some more extreme set-up items, how we prepare the tyres, this, that and the other.

“If you are fighting in the midfield, you’d probably be reluctant to try something drastic because each weekend could be a possibility for that. Whereas for us we know regardless where we’ll be and that gives us an opportunity to gain the learning on the set things like that and build or create the best car mechanically from what’s there.”

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2020 F1 season