Williams Shifts Focus to 2024 F1 Car Development
After a challenging 2022 season, where Williams finished last in the constructors’ championship, the Grove-based team has experienced a turnaround under the guidance of new team principal James Vowles and significant changes to its technical structure. The FW45 challenger has shown promising improvements, thanks to a major upgrade package introduced at the Canadian Grand Prix, enabling Williams to climb to seventh in the constructors’ standings.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Dave Robson, the head of vehicle performance, revealed that most of the planned upgrades have already been implemented. The recent addition of a front wing at Silverstone, set to reappear in Spa, will be the last major update. Any further enhancements will be minor, dependent on wind tunnel results and the team’s ability to swiftly implement them. With these upgrades in place, the focus now shifts towards the development of the FW46, the car for the 2024 season.
Robson emphasized the importance of continuing to analyze the current car’s performance, testing it on various types of circuits, and fine-tuning its setup. This approach aims to extract the maximum potential from the existing FW45 and allow the drivers, Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, to push the car to its limits.
Although the Canada upgrade has provided noticeable improvements in downforce delivery and overall performance, Robson believes its full potential is yet to be seen. The team has not had the opportunity to test it on a maximum downforce circuit, which will happen during the upcoming race weekend.
In the recent dry second practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Albon finished 13th. However, the positions may not accurately reflect performance due to the new alternative tire allocation this weekend, resulting in teams following diverse programs.
As Williams looks forward to the future with a renewed focus on their 2024 F1 car, they remain determined to extract the most from their current challenger, aiming for continued success throughout the remainder of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about F1 car development
Q: What changes did Williams make for the 2023 F1 season?
A: Williams Racing underwent changes in its technical structure and appointed James Vowles as the new team principal for the 2023 season.
Q: How has Williams performed in the 2023 F1 season?
A: After a challenging 2022 campaign, Williams has shown solid gains in the 2023 season, climbing to seventh in the constructors’ standings.
Q: What upgrades did Williams introduce during the season?
A: Williams introduced a major upgrade package during the Canadian Grand Prix to improve the performance of its FW45 challenger.
Q: What is the team’s plan for the rest of the 2023 F1 season?
A: Head of vehicle performance, Dave Robson, stated that most planned upgrades have been delivered, and the team will now shift its focus to developing the FW46 for the 2024 season while optimizing the FW45 setup.
Q: How has the recent upgrade affected the car’s performance?
A: The recent upgrade has improved the FW45’s downforce delivery and overall characteristics, but its full potential has yet to be explored on a max downforce circuit.
Q: How did Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant perform in the Hungarian Grand Prix practice session?
A: In the dry second practice session, Albon finished 13th, but the positions may not accurately reflect performance due to the weekend’s new alternative tire allocation.
Q: What will be the team’s focus for the upcoming races?
A: Williams will continue to understand the FW45’s performance by testing it on different circuits and optimizing its setup to extract the most out of the current car for the remaining races.
More about F1 car development
- Williams Racing Official Website
- 2023 Formula 1 Season
- James Vowles – Profile
- Canadian Grand Prix 2023
- Hungarian Grand Prix 2023
1 comment
new team principal n tech changes made big diff, williams lookin’ strong now! fw46 development excitin’ news!