'No reason' Williams can't replicate McLaren's F1 recovery - Capito

Williams CEO Jost Capito hopes his new team can replicate McLaren's recent resurgence to near the front of the Formula 1 grid in the coming seasons. 

Capito was appointed Williams CEO back in December as part of a new management structure put in place by new owners Dorilton Capital.

The German had a brief spell with McLaren in 2016 but is better known for overseeing Volkswagen’s period of domination in the World Rally Championship where it won a hat-trick of drivers' and constructors' titles.

McLaren went from ninth in the constructors’ championship in 2018 to finishing fourth and third in the subsequent two seasons - an upturn in form Capito believes Williams can achieve in the coming years.

“I think McLaren has done a fantastic job in recent years and the answer is very short – there is no reason why we couldn’t do the same,” Capito said. “I think we have everything in place that we could do exactly the same. To give a timing of that – 2, 3, 4 years is impossible to say. But I’m absolutely convinced we can do minimum of what McLaren has done.”

With a significant regulation change on the horizon in 2022, Williams like many other F1 teams has its sights set on next season.

Speaking after the launch of Williams’ 2021 challenger - the FW43B - Capito sees 2022 as the year it will benefit most from Dorliton Capital’s significant investment.

“I have been very impressed by Dorilton, they are very good owners with the right mindset and resources and they are very supportive to the team, Capito added. “We are at the dawn of a new era for Williams. I would characterise 2021 as a transitional year for the team, where our aim is to close the gap to as much as possible.

“However, our resources are already focused on 2022 and the new regulations. This is where we see the opportunity to make the first significant steps in competitiveness for Williams in our new era, and from there we will build. But we are realistic, there is never a quick fix. What we are developing is the step-by-step, long-term plan, to restore this great team to the front-end of Formula 1.

“So while we will still be racing as hard as we can in 2021, our focus is already very much on building for the future from 2022 and beyond.”