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We are better on performance - Barrichello

Rubens Barrichello is hopeful that the new Williams will move the team closer to the front © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Rubens Barrichello

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• Williams

Rubens Barrichello is pleased with the Williams FW33 ahead of the new season, saying that it is a better car than the 2010 offering.

The FW33 houses the smallest gearbox on the grid, giving the car an impressive rear end, and has produced some encouraging times during testing. Barrichello says that while it is different, he believes that it is an improvement on last year's FW32.

"I think we are better on performance than last year," he said. "The car is a different animal though so there is a different way of treating it, but I quite like it. How much faster it is, is very difficult to know, but the car feels better than last year's to drive. There is still a question mark about where we stand; I know that we have improved but there are teams either side of us. I know how optimistic I am and I know how much I would love to say that we will do really well, but what I will say is that I want to be in Q3 and to score points, and I think that is achievable."

As well as being happy with the car, Barrichello said he felt that the team's whole build up to the new season had improved too.

"This is my second year with the team and we are in much better shape than we were this time last year. Everything has been prepared well and the team are doing a really good job getting everything ready in time for Melbourne."

As head of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, Barrichello has been vocal when it comes to safety issues, and he said that the drivers are still not happy with the amount of work they have to do inside the cockpit.

"Running with both KERS and the rear wing is tough. As soon as you do a lot of running you get used to the situation, but every new track will be a new challenge. Hopefully we will get a little bit more of an explanation as to how the wing will work, as originally it was only to be used at the start and in straight lines to overtake, but now it seems to be engaged at most corners. With KERS you have to look at the steering wheel to save as much as you want and to use it in the right places, so you're not looking straight ahead all the time. This is one of the things we are taking about with Charlie Whiting and Jean Todt to try to improve."

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