Williams endured a miserable 2019 Formula 1 campaign in which it failed to make it out of Q1, scored just one point, and finished last in the standings.
It was consistently adrift of its opponents, sometimes a second a lap, with the only opportunity for a scrap coming either on the opening lap or between the two FW42s.
Williams has already started 2020 on a stronger footing, with George Russell besting his time from last year’s Spanish Grand Prix, as the team amassed encouraging mileage with the FW43.
“It’s too early to really truly tell where anybody really is as we’re all doing our individual programmes,” said deputy team boss Claire Williams.
“So to compare and contrast is difficult, but certainly we feel we’ve made a step forward.
“I’m sure we’ll get some more data next week when people start doing proper qualifying runs but until then we need to wait and see.”
On the ambitions for 2020 Williams said: “We want to go racing. We’re here in Formula 1 to go racing, that’s why Williams exists, we’re not here to do anything else, we’re here because we love racing, and last year we just weren’t racing.
“Robert [Kubica] and George were racing each other and we want to come to each and every race to fight for I think realistically a Q2 position and then to fight for a position in the race that brings our pride back.
“We want George and Nicholas [Latifi] to have the opportunity to fight with the midfield competitors.”
