The Williams team has released some information on its new Cosworth-powered FW33, which is set to join several other new cars when testing begins in Valencia today (February 1st).
The FW33, painted in the team’s traditional navy blue interim testing colours, follows this season’s trend of high noses, detailed airboxes and scupulted sidepods.
Rubens Barrichello will shakedown the car in the opening day of testing and will share testing duties with rookie and GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado the following day.
Frank Williams says his team is hopeful the new FW33 car unveiled on Tuesday will help the British squad take a step closer to the leading outfits in 2011.
Williams finished the 2010 season in sixth position, its best result since 2007, but was still unable to fight for podiums finishes and is now aiming to take another step forward.
The team boss is aware that the task will not be easy, but insists Williams is as ambitious as it has ever been.
“Our ambition is get back to the front of the grid,” said Williams. “We know that won’t be easy, but we hope this car will take us closer to the leaders than we were in 2010.
“As a team, we’re as ambitious now as we’ve ever been.”
Technical director Sam Michael said he is positive about the competitiveness of the new car, although he conceded it is far too early to make predictions.
“Until you start testing you’re never sure how you’re going to stack up against the opposition, but we’re optimistic,” he said.
“We think this is a good car, but we’ll have a better overall picture in a few weeks time.”
He added: “The design of this year’s car has been pretty smooth We’ve improved our way of working by increasing the communication between the mechanical and aerodynamic departments, and that improved our decision making processes. It allowed us to increase the optimisation time spent on each part of the car.”
The car will start testing at Valencia today, but the ‘launch spec’ will be upgraded later with a new aerodynamic package for the start of the season.
Source: Autosport.com
Williams’ 2011 car made its first public appearance in testing at Valencia on Tuesday. The Cosworth-powered FW33 appeared in a blue, interim livery, with its final race colour scheme to be revealed at a later date.
“Until you start testing you’re never sure how you’re going to stack up against the opposition, but we’re optimistic,” said Williams’ technical director Sam Michael. “We think this is a good car, but we’ll have a better overall picture in a few weeks time.”
New rules for 2011 have compelled Williams to take an innovative approach to the new car. The ban on double diffusers and the F-duct forced the aerodynamicists to seek new downforce solutions; KERS had to be incorporated into the layout and the team had to prepare for the arrival of a new tyre supplier, Pirelli, for the first time in five years.
“The design of this year’s car has been pretty smooth,” continued Michael. “We’ve improved our way of working by increasing the communication between the mechanical and aerodynamic departments, and that improved our decision making processes. It allowed us to increase the optimisation time spent on each part of the car.”
The Williams seen at Tuesday’s Valencia test is the first iteration of the FW33. This ‘launch spec’ will be replaced by an aero upgrade at the first race in Bahrain next month and there will be many others during the course of the year. Michael and his technical team expect aerodynamic performance to reach the same levels as 2010, despite there being less aero freedom in the rules.
“Our ambition is get back to the front of the grid,” added team principal Frank Williams. “We know that won’t be easy, but we hope this car will take us closer to the leaders than we were in 2010. As a team, we’re as ambitious now as we’ve ever been.”
Rubens Barrichello will commence Williams’ three-day Valencia test on Tuesday, with new team mate Pastor Maldonado taking over from Wednesday afternoon.
Source: Formula1.com