Williams head of vehicle performance Dave Robson believes the new regulations brought in for the 2021 Formula 1 season could benefit the Grove-based outfit.

Ahead of the new campaign, the FIA tweaked the rules in a bid to reduce downforce levels and the strain placed on the tyres.

In particular, there will be changes to the floor towards the back of the car, as well as the diffusers and brake ducts.

Williams endured another difficult season in 2020, failing to pick up a single point from the 17 races. However, they were more competitive in qualifying and closed the gap to the likes of Haas and Alfa Romeo.

Asked how the new regulations could impact the team, Robson said that Williams were less likely to be affected by some of the other teams.

“It is a major change to the floor, particularly that area close to the rear tyre,” he said. “It is an area where we suspect we’re not class leader, let’s say, so hopefully for us it’s less of a hit than some of those other teams.

“I think it is traditionally a very difficult area to understand, particularly how the floor will react to the tyre as it deforms and ages and wears.

“So hopefully it will have quite a big effect for the teams at the sharp end and perhaps less so for us.

“That’s what we’re hoping and hopefully there’s some early indications from the running we did on Friday [in Abu Dhabi] that that might be the case.”