Can technology take Williams to the front of the F1 grid?

'Innovate'

"We believe we can take them on," the 48-year-old South African, who has worked in F1 for 18 years, tells the BBC.

"We can't follow what Mercedes do. We want to beat people who are out-speeding us. If you can innovate, and not just follow what other people out there are doing, then you give yourself a chance."

And Mr Hackland, who is in his second year at Williams, says that he has seen an improvement over the past 18 months, as the team has cut the lap time difference between itself and Mercedes from 1.6 seconds, to 0.8 seconds.