Valtteri Bottas believes that Williams are in the best position they have been in since the Finn joined the team as a reserve driver in 2010.

After a year of struggles that saw the Oxfordshire outfit register just one point in 2013, the team is now regularly competing for points and Bottas insists that the change of fortune is down to the likes of Pat Symonds and Rob Smedley playing a key part.

He is quoted by Autosport as saying: "I've been a test driver since 2010 and this year is definitely the best since I've been here.

"All the right people coming in and many changes being made, how people work in the factory and communicate with the race team and everything, it's much better.

"Last year it was difficult to make any big improvements to the car, but this season is a big step from any previous year and I think that's because there's been more changes."

Bottas currently lies sixth in the drivers' rankings.