With the 2021 Formula One season approximately three quarters complete the Williams Racing Team can reflect on how this season has seen a marked change over those of previous years with the performances seeing them secure points in four of the last five races.

Despite the fact that some of the teams achievements have come on the back of some unexpected situations at races, such as the Red Flagged race at Spa, the team has seen in pure pace alone forward progress. They have yet to say that they are without doubt a midfield team but they certainly are not having to cope with the situation that they are nothing more than a backmarker in races.

Such has been the change that the team has now taken on an air of going into each race with the expectation that a positive result is always on the cards. In reality they are still 7th of the current ten teams but have certainly proved that they can take advantage of some of the unexpected situations that have presented themselves.

But for Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performances, in a recent interview with Autosport.com has cautioned the team with not creating expectations that will become harder and harder to achieve as they continue to find further improvements.

Robson said: “[We have to be] a little bit careful we don’t get lost in our own hubris. I’m still conscious of the fact the quicker the car gets – and hopefully we’ll see a big step next year [with the] relative pace of the car – then the pressure will still ramp up a lot.

“We’re still in a position at the moment where we’ve a lot to win and not a huge amount to lose, which does take a bit of the pressure off.

“So it will be a different ballgame for a lot of people on the race team who don’t have huge amounts of experience of operating a quick car.

“It can be a different kind of pressure. But far better we go into it not making too many mistakes, and try to build on that, as opposed to going into it having not got that momentum. I think we are in a good position.”

For Robson the opportunities that have presented themselves have allowed them to take more risks compared to their rivals.

He added: “In Russia, once we got into Q3 in those kind of circumstances, we don’t have a lot to lose. The teams that expect to be in the top three, four or five, they have a lot to lose. If we got that wrong, and using slick tyres had been the wrong call, there isn’t time to put the inters back on and get a meaningful lap. And so we’d have been 10th. And that’s much more difficult for the top teams to take that chance.

“So, a bit like Spa, we were happy to try it. We were already quite happy having got 10th at worst, so it gives us the freedom to make those decisions.

“I think the other thing that underlines the whole operation recently is it’s just a good group of people doing a good job, and being put into a position where we can do a good job.”

Assessing the 2021 season so far one must certainly have to say that the Williams Team has achieved a marked reversal in their fortunes compared to previous years where they struggled to get off the bottom of the results. How much of this has come off the back of the sale of the team to Dorilton Capital and a change in the management of the team is a matter of debate but whatever their role bringing in Jost Capito certainly has been one of the main contributing factors to the teams change in fortunes. He certainly has brought in a new air of optimism within the team.

Capito has been the man behind the teams new approach one that encourages team members to take calculated risks. “If we do as everybody else does, we will be behind them until our package is improved,” Capito said in Monaco.

This new positive feeling within the team certainly can only help as they continue to push back up into the midfield.

Robson added: “Morale is high, everyone is happy and you kind of feel that about the place, which is the key about having a string of results and it not being a flash in the pan – breeds more morale.”

“If you have the ninth-fastest car, you can try things differently and not be always on the back foot and try to conserve what you have. Try something different that others might not try because they are up front and for them it would be risky. A couple of times, we’ve taken risks, with tyre choice for the weather and it worked out.”

Robson has been full of praise of Capito's approach.

Robson said: “Jost is supportive of those decisions. Not that previous management weren’t, but Jost is proactive in reminding us that we are free to make those kinds of decisions and there won’t be any direct comebacks. Jost undoubtedly has a part to play in setting that scene and letting us do a good job.”

“It shows that the team works better as an overall team on communication. I’m surprised how much that can make the car faster without actually improving the car,” Capito said.

Combined with the change in the approach within the team also has been a massive improvement in the facilities at the Williams factory. The composites department has been one area where there has been a significant improvement over what has been seen in previous years.

Capito said to RaceFans.net “A lot of new machines came in at the end of last year, so the machine park is absolutely up to date. Also, 3D printers were installed last year so they are not under the budget cap matrix. From that point of view we are in a much better position than we have been last year.

“Composites is one of the areas we have to improve, it’s one that is really obvious. But there are other areas that are as important as the composite area that have to be modernised."

As the 2021 Formula One season draws to a close it will be a fascinating time for the Williams Racing Team has they work towards securing their position in the 2021 championship as well as working towards a significant step forward in 2022.