The Williams F1 Team has, like the rule book, gone through a major transformation for the 2014 season and looks in a strong position ahead of the opening round in Australia.
With new sponsors, a new driver and new team members, could the Grove-based outfit be this year’s dark horse?
From the get-go, the team’s FW36 looked consistent and fast in winter testing. The opening few rounds of the season will be decided by reliability and early signs indicate that the new Williams could make it to the chequered flag in Melbourne.
In fact, the team managed to avoid causing a red flag until the final hour of pre-season running and even then, it was due to a high-mileage part failing. Both drivers managed to complete qualifying and race simulations as well as car performance work.
Felipe Massa even set the fastest time of the two Bahrain tests. The Brazilian brings a wealth of experience to Williams, which will be vital as the team tackles the new regulations and develops its latest car.
He will be partnered by another fast Finn: Valtteri Bottas. I rate the 23-year-old very highly. He managed to beat his 2013 team-mate Pastor Maldonado in the qualifying head-to-head and scored a strong eighth place at the United States Grand Prix in a car that arguably should not have been there.
He also showed impressive pace in wet conditions to qualify third in Canada and, overall, did a good job all season in poor machinery. It was a touch rookie season but he proved that he is a mature young driver and – unlike Maldonado – managed to steer clear of trouble. I expect big things from him in the future and he could well be racing at the front in 2014.
But why is that? Well, as mentioned earlier, the FW36 looks fast and reliable. The team’s largely trouble-free winter of testing meant it was able to switch focus to performance running and race preparations before the majority of its rivals.
Williams certainly made the right choice when it announced last May that it was switching from Renault to Mercedes power for 2014. So far in testing, those with Renault power-units have struggled to complete even a long run – let alone a race simulation – due to reliability issues.
Obviously the Mercedes engine hasn’t been perfect, but it is reportedly the most powerful of the bunch and has rarely broken down. Williams completed 935 laps over the 12 test days, the second highest tally, which certainly bodes well in a season that looks set to be dominated by the new power-units.
As well as a new driver, there are a number of new team members at Grove. Pat Symonds made the move from Marussia last summer - joining as Williams’ chief technical officer - and former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has been reunited with Massa at the team as head of vehicle dynamics.
The nine-times constructors’ champions may have lost Xevi Pujolar to Toro Rosso, but it has strengthened its engineering and technical team with Shaun Whitehead from Red Bull, former Lotus deputy head of aero Dave Wheater, Jakob Andreasen from Force India and Craig Wilson, who moves over from Mercedes.
Alongside the raft of new employees, the team has also been busy on the sponsorship side. Brazilian’s Massa and reserve driver Felipe Nasr, a good talent who will race in GP2 once again this year, have helped the team secure sponsorship with oil company Petrobas and Banco do Brasil.
The team’s partnership with watch brand Oris has been expanded and Williams has welcomed Genworth, a global lifestyle protection insurer, to the family. More recently, a deal with men’s lifestyle magazine Esquire was announced.
But the most important deal of all was confirmed on the 6th March after weeks of speculation: Martini’s return to F1 with one of the sport’s most successful and illustrious outfits. The West London launch revealed the re-branding of the team to Williams Martini Racing, as well as uncovering its new livery – which is by far my favourite on the grid.
It is excellent news for both parties and another fantastic business move by Frank Williams. In a time where McLaren – who suffered a far better 2013 season in comparison to the Grove team – has so far struggled to find a title sponsor, it is a great move for Williams to secure a multi-year deal with such a well-known brand.
At the Sky Sports F1 press day, Martin Brundle was explaining how the sport is like a flywheel, when a team gets momentum it carries on for a while. However, when you start to lose momentum, it is very difficult to recover.
He was describing Lotus at the time and the difficult situation the Enstone-based outfit has found itself in after losing Eric Boullier to McLaren, Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari and a number of other high-profile team members, but it also applies to Williams (in the opposite way). After quite some time fighting at the back of the midfield, the team has finally regained momentum – which is not easy - and will be hoping that it continues for a while to come
So as you can see, the team is in a strong position and is rightfully confident about the season ahead. Some say Massa has lost his touch but I disagree. He had a good end to his 2013 campaign and is still capable of challenging at the front; I have no doubt about that.
Bottas is one to watch and will definitely be up there fighting with the top drivers on the grid. I’m excited to see what he can do this year, if my predictions are of course right and the FW36 is as fast and reliable as it looks.
I really believe Williams is this season's dark horse and could challenger for wins. It will be great to see the team fighting at the front once again after a number of years struggling to even score points.
What do you think? Can Williams return to the top step of the podium in 2014? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
 |
| © Williams Martini Racing |
From the get-go, the team’s FW36 looked consistent and fast in winter testing. The opening few rounds of the season will be decided by reliability and early signs indicate that the new Williams could make it to the chequered flag in Melbourne.
In fact, the team managed to avoid causing a red flag until the final hour of pre-season running and even then, it was due to a high-mileage part failing. Both drivers managed to complete qualifying and race simulations as well as car performance work.
Felipe Massa even set the fastest time of the two Bahrain tests. The Brazilian brings a wealth of experience to Williams, which will be vital as the team tackles the new regulations and develops its latest car.
 |
| © Williams Martini Racing |
He will be partnered by another fast Finn: Valtteri Bottas. I rate the 23-year-old very highly. He managed to beat his 2013 team-mate Pastor Maldonado in the qualifying head-to-head and scored a strong eighth place at the United States Grand Prix in a car that arguably should not have been there.
He also showed impressive pace in wet conditions to qualify third in Canada and, overall, did a good job all season in poor machinery. It was a touch rookie season but he proved that he is a mature young driver and – unlike Maldonado – managed to steer clear of trouble. I expect big things from him in the future and he could well be racing at the front in 2014.
But why is that? Well, as mentioned earlier, the FW36 looks fast and reliable. The team’s largely trouble-free winter of testing meant it was able to switch focus to performance running and race preparations before the majority of its rivals.
Williams certainly made the right choice when it announced last May that it was switching from Renault to Mercedes power for 2014. So far in testing, those with Renault power-units have struggled to complete even a long run – let alone a race simulation – due to reliability issues.
Obviously the Mercedes engine hasn’t been perfect, but it is reportedly the most powerful of the bunch and has rarely broken down. Williams completed 935 laps over the 12 test days, the second highest tally, which certainly bodes well in a season that looks set to be dominated by the new power-units.
 |
| © Williams Martini Racing |
As well as a new driver, there are a number of new team members at Grove. Pat Symonds made the move from Marussia last summer - joining as Williams’ chief technical officer - and former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has been reunited with Massa at the team as head of vehicle dynamics.
The nine-times constructors’ champions may have lost Xevi Pujolar to Toro Rosso, but it has strengthened its engineering and technical team with Shaun Whitehead from Red Bull, former Lotus deputy head of aero Dave Wheater, Jakob Andreasen from Force India and Craig Wilson, who moves over from Mercedes.
Alongside the raft of new employees, the team has also been busy on the sponsorship side. Brazilian’s Massa and reserve driver Felipe Nasr, a good talent who will race in GP2 once again this year, have helped the team secure sponsorship with oil company Petrobas and Banco do Brasil.
The team’s partnership with watch brand Oris has been expanded and Williams has welcomed Genworth, a global lifestyle protection insurer, to the family. More recently, a deal with men’s lifestyle magazine Esquire was announced.
But the most important deal of all was confirmed on the 6th March after weeks of speculation: Martini’s return to F1 with one of the sport’s most successful and illustrious outfits. The West London launch revealed the re-branding of the team to Williams Martini Racing, as well as uncovering its new livery – which is by far my favourite on the grid.
It is excellent news for both parties and another fantastic business move by Frank Williams. In a time where McLaren – who suffered a far better 2013 season in comparison to the Grove team – has so far struggled to find a title sponsor, it is a great move for Williams to secure a multi-year deal with such a well-known brand.
 |
| © Williams Martini Racing |
At the Sky Sports F1 press day, Martin Brundle was explaining how the sport is like a flywheel, when a team gets momentum it carries on for a while. However, when you start to lose momentum, it is very difficult to recover.
He was describing Lotus at the time and the difficult situation the Enstone-based outfit has found itself in after losing Eric Boullier to McLaren, Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari and a number of other high-profile team members, but it also applies to Williams (in the opposite way). After quite some time fighting at the back of the midfield, the team has finally regained momentum – which is not easy - and will be hoping that it continues for a while to come
So as you can see, the team is in a strong position and is rightfully confident about the season ahead. Some say Massa has lost his touch but I disagree. He had a good end to his 2013 campaign and is still capable of challenging at the front; I have no doubt about that.
Bottas is one to watch and will definitely be up there fighting with the top drivers on the grid. I’m excited to see what he can do this year, if my predictions are of course right and the FW36 is as fast and reliable as it looks.
I really believe Williams is this season's dark horse and could challenger for wins. It will be great to see the team fighting at the front once again after a number of years struggling to even score points.
What do you think? Can Williams return to the top step of the podium in 2014? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.