The Williams F1 Team have revealed that their 2013 machine will not be revealed until the second winter test, the first at the Circuit de Catalunya.
The delay could be for a number of reasons, possibly a delay in the car passing crash test regulations or the development being behind schedule, one thing is certain. Only Williams know.
They will go to the first test at Jerez with the 2012 Williams F1 Car. We will see the debut of some new parts and the 2013 livery will also be launched, but you have to think that the team will have some disadvantages from not testing the complete package.
A team statement said “For the earlier Jerez test starting on the 5th February, the team will run the 2012 FW34 in order to test a number of key development parts in preparation for the launch of the FW35.”
The FW35 will be launched in the Circuit de Catalunya pit lane on February 19th, where drivers Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas will get to sample their new ride.
This decision could suggest that the team will start the season on the back foot. There is only so much data that they can collect from the new parts being fitted to the FW34 in Jerez. They will get some useful data and testing done on the new Pirelli tyres, that will be considerably less durable in 2013, but it will be somewhat difficult to gather effective data when they do not fully know how the new parts and tyres will behave on the new machine.
Teams who have had delayed launches in the past have gone on to struggle at the beginning of the season. However it is not always the case, Williams could turn it around.
The data gathered may not be completely reliable and 100% right, whilst they will also lose out testing the cars reliability and durability. The Renault-engined machine needs to be as good as possible if the team want to replicate their 2012 victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, but this is not the way to kick off their campaign.
Their two relatively inexperienced drivers will also suffer with a lack of running. Testing is limited in Formula 1's current guise, so it will possibly impact their preparations for the season. They will be busy in the simulator, and with F1's brilliant technology they will have the ability to gather important information about the FW35. However it looks like they could be in trouble.
At least the rules are relatively stable for 2013, with limited changes helping to minimise the dent that the late launch could have created for their season. They had a good base car in 2013 that was competitive on a number of different circuit variations, and with fast and experienced tester Bottas on board they will be able to get it together. However when they get it together is the real question, will the late launch mean they lose out in Australia? Or will it actually all turn out okay. Only time will tell.
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| (c) Williams F1 Team |
They will go to the first test at Jerez with the 2012 Williams F1 Car. We will see the debut of some new parts and the 2013 livery will also be launched, but you have to think that the team will have some disadvantages from not testing the complete package.
A team statement said “For the earlier Jerez test starting on the 5th February, the team will run the 2012 FW34 in order to test a number of key development parts in preparation for the launch of the FW35.”
The FW35 will be launched in the Circuit de Catalunya pit lane on February 19th, where drivers Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas will get to sample their new ride.
This decision could suggest that the team will start the season on the back foot. There is only so much data that they can collect from the new parts being fitted to the FW34 in Jerez. They will get some useful data and testing done on the new Pirelli tyres, that will be considerably less durable in 2013, but it will be somewhat difficult to gather effective data when they do not fully know how the new parts and tyres will behave on the new machine.
Teams who have had delayed launches in the past have gone on to struggle at the beginning of the season. However it is not always the case, Williams could turn it around.
The data gathered may not be completely reliable and 100% right, whilst they will also lose out testing the cars reliability and durability. The Renault-engined machine needs to be as good as possible if the team want to replicate their 2012 victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, but this is not the way to kick off their campaign.
Their two relatively inexperienced drivers will also suffer with a lack of running. Testing is limited in Formula 1's current guise, so it will possibly impact their preparations for the season. They will be busy in the simulator, and with F1's brilliant technology they will have the ability to gather important information about the FW35. However it looks like they could be in trouble.
At least the rules are relatively stable for 2013, with limited changes helping to minimise the dent that the late launch could have created for their season. They had a good base car in 2013 that was competitive on a number of different circuit variations, and with fast and experienced tester Bottas on board they will be able to get it together. However when they get it together is the real question, will the late launch mean they lose out in Australia? Or will it actually all turn out okay. Only time will tell.
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