Rubens: Williams could be the surprise of 2010

Rubens Barrichello believes his Williams team could be the surprise package in this year's Championship.

Williams have had a mixed bag of results during pre-season testing, at times near of the timesheets and at others leading the way.

In fact, Nico Hulkenberg set the fastest time of the week at Barcelona on Friday, although it was subsequently beaten by Lewis Hamilton on Sunday.

But it's that sort of lap time that has Barrichello confident that Williams can succeed this season.

"I think Nico's time on Friday was the very first time we tried low fuel in the car, and we surprised a few people, so all of a sudden Williams is being talked about in the paddock," the Brazilian told Autosport.

"This winter it was very, very easy to become the hero of the winter test. If I took fuel out at every test I would've been first at every test, but would that have taught me what I now know from the car? I don't think so."

Barrichello also believes his team's FW32 as testing has progress, however, he's still keeping his feet firmly on the ground

"We have improved - we can only say for ourselves - but we have improved a good second from Valencia," he said.

"We feel competitive, but I think Williams-Cosworth can be one of the teams to surprise people this year.

"But like I said it's really, really difficult and I'm just keeping myself very clear, my feet on the ground, and just working as hard as I can. But I feel the car is on a competitive level."

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