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Williams revenues increased due Bottas deal!

11:07, 20 Apr 2018

bySam Bytheway

Williams have reported an increase in revenue during 2017, mainly due to a deal with Mercedes to release Valtteri Bottas.

The revenues rose from £116.7 million in 2016, to £125.6 million last year. A vast majority of this rise is believed to be accounted for by the income from releasing Bottas from his contract compared to the cost of re-hiring Felipe Massa.

Williams had Bottas under contract for the 2017 season, but a deal was reached with Mercedes to allow him to take the place of Nico Rosberg, who retired at the end of 2016.

Williams CEO, said last years improved financial performance was due to "a one-off non-recurring item which we had to recognise in the first half of 2017."

O'Driscoll added that the results:

“Gave us the confidence to continue investing in our facility and technical capabilities.

“Our Formula One team maintained fifth place position in the FIA constructors’ championship for the second successive year.

“Williams Martini Racing was the only team, outside of the top three, to reach the podium in 2017, which was achieved by Lance Stroll at the Azerbaijan GP. This illustrates the large gap in competitive expenditure between the leading teams and the rest of the grid.

“We are hopeful that Liberty Media’s long-term vision for the future of the sport can deliver a more level playing field, on which all teams can compete more fairly. In the meantime, we are intensely focused on improving our own performance, following a tough start to this season’s campaign.”