1547 replies to this topic

[Beatrix]

After a rather dismal 2008 season with the FW30, is there anyone who thinks that Williams can achieve the nigh impossible and fight at the front again for next year?

Positively and despite consistent rumours to the opposite, there will be an unchanged driver line up, same engine, Williams have bought a KERS flywheel specialist company, they have already tested FW30Bish aero and reportedly directed most of their resources to the future early on last season.

There is always the question of finances though, are they in trouble thanks to Baugur and RBS or will Williams pull through the financial crisis unscathed?

Will Williams impress enough to entice a manufacturer such as Hyundai to back them? Will the association with F2 and Audi convince the Germans to enter F1 with the team?

How will the pre-season and next year progress? Will it atleast be better than 2008?

Any thoughts?

[Francesc]

Could you change the tittle of the thread to Williams FW31? I have the feeling it will bring us some luck ;)

It's definetly difficult to do worse than this season, but you never know about next season as everything will change.

[Beatrix]

I'm happy for it to be changed but can't change it myself!

[Francesc]

Maybe some mod could do it, please

Sam said yesterday:

Some time ago, we arranged our internal resource to concentrate on development for '09. "Everyone at the factory is now fully focussed on next season in order to ensure we have a much more competitive car next year taking into consideration the new aerodynamic rules, slick tyres and KERS.

Two weeks and we will get the first impression for 2009, thought it won't be any significant

[Beatrix]

There is an interesting article on the club website with Ed Wood titled "The End of One Season, the Start of Another."

He thinks everything is on track for 2009, including new gearbox and rear suspension, aerodynamics and diffuser and some core elements of our KERS.

The new KERS engineers (I assume the company Williams bought) combining with established Williams engineers are working very well together.

The FW31 will have its first run at the new Autodromo do Algarve in Portugal in late Jan.

[Francesc]

Nice that they will run the FW31 in January, as soon as they start to work with it, better it will get

[wewantourdarbyback]

Originally posted by Beatrix


The new KERS engineers (I assume the company Williams bought) combining with established Williams engineers are working very well together.

I had a Formula Student workshop in London on Friday. The head of Flybrid is the head judge of the competition. I got to ask him a lot of questions about what we should do (and resisted very hard asking him about williams) obviously knows his stuff but he's a really great guy to get help from.

I can't wait to see the FW31, we've got a lot of work done on it it seems and I don't think anyone else has had the chance to test any of the new wing regulations.

Bring on 09

[Dunc]

I really, really hope Williams get back up there. Eleven years without a WDC is way too long for that team.

[Beatrix]

With Toyota spruiking a return to Le Mans, is there any hope Williams could collaborate with them in the project ala the BMW Motorsport V12 LMR?

Are there any other non F1 opportunities that Williams could take advantage of to increase exposure or income aside from F2?

[wewantourdarbyback]

Originally posted by Beatrix
With Toyota spruiking a return to Le Mans, is there any hope Williams could collaborate with them in the project ala the BMW Motorsport V12 LMR?

Are there any other non F1 opportunities that Williams could take advantage of to increase exposure or income aside from F2?

Who knows, they've branched into F2 so if Toyota want any help then they might ask Williams. Having said that Toyota have an up and running motorsports division that they may want to use if they scale down the F1 effort.

[paulogman]

well, how early did williams start to concentrate on this year's car?
I think they are fighting a losing battle against the manufacutrers money. good thing they are looking outside of f1 again, really is pointless for them to waste so much time on running around at the back

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by Dunc
I really, really hope Williams get back up there. Eleven years without a WDC is way too long for that team.

I really, really hope they make it to next season.

[Francesc]

Originally posted by paulogman
I think they are fighting a losing battle against the manufacutrers money. good thing they are looking outside of f1 again, really is pointless for them to waste so much time on running around at the back

When FIA add cost reduction, we all will see what the team have got ;)

[postajegenye]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


I really, really hope they make it to next season.

[KiwiF1]

From what I can make out from certain interviews and Sam Michael's absence from GP's the move to focus on 2009 started around late June early July.

I can't help but feel that, if the money is there (ie their usual funding), the new regulations will be an advantage for Williams. They were always good on the mechanical grip side and aero has never been their biggest strength. Gearboxes and components seem to be well developed and therefore my hopes for them getting the KERS package sorted is quite high.

So I have my usual optimistic approach to 2009, can't wait for the testing and it's only 144 days to Australia!!! Time to enjoy the Summer!

[wewantourdarbyback]

Originally posted by Beatrix


Will Williams impress enough to entice a manufacturer such as Hyundai to back them? Will the association with F2 and Audi convince the Germans to enter F1 with the team?

I'd love to take that option, our expertise added to Audi's would be fantastic.

[Beatrix]

What has happened to the proposed budget cap? Is it still on the cards?

If that were put in place, with Audi/VW/Porsche's apprehension to join F1 due to costs, it would be very easy to imagine an Audi Williams team fighting at the top in a short period of time.

[pgj]

Originally posted by wewantourdarbyback


I'd love to take that option, our expertise added to Audi's would be fantastic.

Sam said that the present engine homogolation rules mean that the engine supply to F1 is effectively a closed-shop and prevents new manufacturers from entering F1. There is an homogolated Cosworth engine that someone could pick up quite cheaply though. It would need developing, but the basics are there. I also wondered about Hyundai. I also wonder if Porche owning the VW group will change their attitude towards entering F1.

If Williams does have a new engine supplier lined up, it could be that Williams will play a delay in KERS off against an end to engine homogolation.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by wewantourdarbyback


I'd love to take that option, our expertise added to Audi's would be fantastic.

I dont think Audi Sport are interested in bulletin boards.

[Tenmantaylor]

Are Wiliams the only team using a kinetic flywheel KERS? If so, why?

[Gilles4Ever]

Originally posted by Tenmantaylor
Are Wiliams the only team using a kinetic flywheel KERS? If so, why?

Isn't Renault also doing a fly wheel solution?

[Beatrix]

I think that Renault is buying a KERS system from Magnetti Marelli.

[tahadar]

Originally posted by Tenmantaylor
Are Wiliams the only team using a kinetic flywheel KERS? If so, why?

williams jointly developed both a mechanical and a battery-based KERS system, and then opted for the mechanical one.

some key advantages:

weight : batteries are heavy
space : the electronic system requires greater volume as the batteries are quite large.

of course there are other pros and cons, but in williams case it seems the mech system was the better option

[wewantourdarbyback]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


I dont think Audi Sport are interested in bulletin boards.

Fastest bulletin board in the west

[Lamag]

What about the Williams KERS? how is the team in that area?

[JSDSKI]

Originally posted by wewantourdarbyback I had a Formula Student workshop in London on Friday. The head of Flybrid is the head judge of the competition.

Good luck with your project!

But don't be so shy about picking his brain and sharing it with us. We promise not to mention your name.

[KiwiF1]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


I dont think Audi Sport are interested in bulletin boards.

I guess we could send the Motorsoports Managing Director an email with a link to this thread, I'm sure it would be fairly easy to obtain. We could then all send an email..... Then again harrassment charges could be a problem, still a great idea though.

[cheapracer]

One thing in Williams favour is they are quick on their feet when it comes to change so i expect at least some early '09 showing if nothing else.

It wouldn't hurt them to get JPM back to do some testing either, he has to be still faster than half the clowns around now.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Then why not just use one of the clowns hanging around now?

[cheapracer]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Then why not just use one of the clowns hanging around now?

Experience and there are 2 types of fast drivers - those that are fast and nothing more and those who are fast and can develop a car or give good feedback. It would appear that JPM wasn't perfect but was certainly fast and the car seemed to be competitive all the time he was there pointing towards his driving development ability as part of the team.

[pgj]

I am a big fan of Ant as a test driver, he is one of the best in F1 at the moment. It would cost too much to get him away from Honda though.

[AFCA]

European Formula BMW champion Esteban Gutierrez tested Williams' simulator.

[tripleM]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


I really, really hope they make it to next season.

Glass half full or crack addict?

[Mauseri]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
I really, really hope they make it to next season.

Even if they are not, they have a place in the history. They dont look like getting back up.

Just hope that recent future rules will make the playing field close so that everyone has a chance on a good day, but I doubt this will be the case.

[BiH]

a fantastic video series 3 parts showcasing the FW31 development process from inside the factory.

interesting that most of the parts shown in video are blurred out lots of secrecy.

looking at the FW31 render it doesn't look bad looks very clean although the rear wing is tall the front wing looks very good

http://uk.eurosport....sode-8-1-3.html

[RiDE]

Originally posted by BiH
a fantastic video series 3 parts showcasing the FW31 development process from inside the factory.

interesting that most of the parts shown in video are blurred out.

looking at the FW31 render it doesn't look bad looks very clean although the rear wing is tall the front wing looks very good

http://uk.eurosport....sode-8-1-3.html

Nice vids Thanks

I wish we had shows like that in the US.

[BiH]

just finished watching it at the end of part 3 it looks like they had the new front wing already on the FW-30?

[rodlamas]

Is Williams keeping the Toyota engines?

If they were, till when their contract is still running?

[djellison]

Ross - that's a new record. Three snarky demeaning one line comments within a single page. You should have a medal.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I don't think it's demeaning to be genuinely concerned for their immediate future, given the massive hole they are in financially.

As for the second line yes it was meant to be demeaning. The 'we' culture of sports fans makes my stomach upset. We don't need football attitudes in motorracing, I like that we're a little smarter.

And no Montoya isn't coming back, he shouldn't come back, and there's no benefit to him coming back.

[RodrigoL]

Originally posted by BiH
a fantastic video series 3 parts showcasing the FW31 development process from inside the factory.

interesting that most of the parts shown in video are blurred out lots of secrecy.

looking at the FW31 render it doesn't look bad looks very clean although the rear wing is tall the front wing looks very good

http://uk.eurosport....sode-8-1-3.html

Here's a few screenshots from that video.

Does the circular object behind the driver's head represent a flywheel? If so, wouldn't that be a major safety hazard??

[Dolph]

I don't think so

[potmotr]

Originally posted by RodrigoL


Does the circular object behind the driver's head represent a flywheel? If so, wouldn't that be a major safety hazard??

Flywheels have a habit of being thrown on occassion. Wouldn't be great for Williams if it then cuts of the driver's head...

[anbeck]

Originally posted by micra_k10

Just hope that recent future rules will make the playing field close so that everyone has a chance on a good day, but I doubt this will be the case.

I think F1 has never been closer than it is now. If Williams would have put half of their 1992 advantage in a vault and had now put it on their FW30, they had been fighting for podiums all season long.

I don't think even more closer racing would help Williams. They just gotta find half a second. I really hope KERS will do it for them!

[Ross Stonefeld]

To join all the drivers killed by flying pitstons to the back of the head

[JamboGT]

Am hoping for a good year, to be honest we need it, another year like this and I don't think things can continue much longer.

That being said I am relatively positive that the regulation changes suit both Williams traditional strong points and also downplay the poor areas, ie. aero since Newey left.

That being said traditional skills in an area matter little when the budget isn't there to compete so we will see.

Don't get me wrong though I am confident that Williams will move back up the grid next year, this year would have looked much healthier if we had scored the points in Monaco and Montreal, where we were looking rather rapid.

So lads, no mistakes next year then!

Good luck!

[Jimages]

Alluding to the design engineer pointing out that the cars will mostly look like the early to mid 90's cars... 94/95 etc... I fear it's a shame that the team's can't simply roll out the existing cars from that era... because then Williams would automatically have the fastest car!

[JamboGT]

Would be a neat trick, but not so sure about 95 car, it was fast but a tad unreliable!

[Jimages]

Yeah, they'd have to update those hydraulics a bit.

[tahadar]

once again, good to see williams getting on with testing their 2009 parts as early as possible