Beaten by Mercedes again, Williams takes positives from 3-4 finish at Austrian GP

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany, second from right, celebrates winning on the podium with team member James Vowles, second from left, second placed Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left and third placed Williams driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland, after the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, June 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

SPIELBERG, Austria – Even locking the front row on the grid of the Austrian Grand Prix wasn't enough for Williams to challenge Mercedes' dominance in Formula One.

Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas started 1-2 for Sunday's race but past the halfway mark the Mercedes pair of Nico Rosberg, the eventual winner, and Lewis Hamilton took the lead and stayed there.

Williams was denied its first F1 win since 2012 but celebrated as Bottas and Massa finished third and fourth respectively.

Deputy team boss Claire Williams says "it was a great day for us ... we can be very proud."

Massa hopes the performance this weekend will help Williams improve for the rest of the season, saying "this can be the restart for the team toward the end of the championship."