Silverstone in-season test Day One: Felipe Massa was fastest on Tuesday

Although the team are only fourth in the Constructors' standings, they have consistently challenged at the right end of the grid and often found themselves second behind pacesetters Mercedes.

The FW36's impressive pace was once again on display on day one of the Silverstone test with Massa's 1:35.242 set in cooler conditions in the morning the best time of the day.

"I think it shows to look how much the car has improved during the Championship," Massa told ESPNF1. "The updates have worked and the car shows it is competitive when we bring more updates, so I hope we bring a lot more. The chance to be in line to improve the car is there so whatever new things we have in the next race will work and will make the car to be quicker. Hopefully this can always be in line to keep us in front of teams like Ferrari and Red Bull.

"I'm sure today is a very positive result for us as it shows the car was the quickest in Canada, except from Mercedes, also the second quickest in Austria just behind Mercedes, and even here [at Silverstone race and test]."

Massa completed 42 laps on Tuesday with one eye no doubt on the German GP, which is up next, but the Brazilian insists they were not only focused on Hockenheim.

"Not too much, to be honest," he said. "The track today is a little different to Hockenheim. Today was trying something, some ideas for the future, maybe even next year. Also just doing some laps as well, I didn't do so much for Hockenheim but the car showed good pace straight away so it was good to feel the car like that."

Silverstone in-season test, Day One timesheet:
1. Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:35.242, 42 laps
2. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:35.248, 72 laps
3. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:35.573, 90 laps
4. Adrian Sutil, Sauber, 1:35.674, 73 laps
5. Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1:36.148, 108 laps
6. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren, 1:36.148, 71 laps
7. Sergio Perez, Force India, 1:36.583, 79 laps
8. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:36.688, 28 laps
9. Pastor Maldonado, Lotus, 1:37.131, 97 laps
10. Pedro de La Rosa, Ferrari, 1:37.988, 49 laps
11. Will Stevens, Caterham, 1:40.627, 95 laps.