Williams focus on 2009 after another blank

By Alan Baldwin

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) - Former champions Williams are resigned to ranking among the 'also-rans' for the rest of the Formula One season.

"We recognise that we are right at the back of the grid effectively, too often if not every time," said team owner Frank Williams at the Belgian Grand Prix where Germany's Nico Rosberg and Japan's Kazuki Nakajima again failed to score on Sunday.

"This year's car is almost as developed as we can successfully do it, short of a major revamp of all the aerodynamics," said Williams.

"Next year's car is the one on which we pin our hopes."

Williams, winners of nine constructors' championships between 1980 and 1997 as well as 113 races, started the season impressively with Rosberg third in Australia and Nakajima a strong sixth.

However, the two drivers have between them scored just two points in their last seven races with Toyota-powered Williams sinking to seventh overall and level on points with much-improved Toro Rosso.

"We're not saying 'watch out for our next race' because it isn't going to be like that," said Williams.

"We'll just have to soldier on, try and get more out of what we've got.