WILLIAMS rookie Lance Stroll is focused on keeping his cool ahead of his Formula 1 debut in Melbourne this weekend.

The 2017 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park on Sunday, where the Grove-based Williams outfit will be looking to make a fast start.

At just 18, Stroll will become the second youngest driver in F1 history, after Max Verstappen in 2015.

The Canadian has been pleased with the progress made during winter testing but is taking care not to look too far ahead.

He said: "I think we still have to stay calm ahead of Australia and just do our work and then see where we are.

"It’s a new track for me, but I’m going to take it step-by-step and run-by-run."

Williams made a solid start last season, with Felipe Massa coming home fifth and Valtteri Bottas eighth.

The latter has left for reigning constructors' champions Mercedes during the close season, with Massa returning after reconsidering his retirement.

The Brazilian's main source of encouragement from the test sessions in Barcelona this month was the lack of mechanical trouble in what is a much-changed car to fit new regulations.

He said: "With the car doing two full race distances in a day it shows the FW40 is reliable, and that’s positive.

"I just hope that we can start the season well in Australia and we can use everything we’ve learned in the test to prepare the car for the first race."

Williams go into the season with a new chief technical officer, with the vastly experienced Paddy Lowe joining from Mercedes.