Williams FW34 Launch

[RTSolvalou]

That's a snazzy car too (compared with the Sauber), I like the revised livery, last years was a bit 'boring office'-ish, the Gillette branded (I guess you could ironically call them) blades on the front wing look fantastic in contrasting white.

Would've been cool to have a golden Renault logo on the front but I guess for sponsor equality they kept them all in similar prominence color wise.

I like that there's lots of variety on the grid for front wings, the nose on this doesn't hang too far over the wing edge itself, the support looks fragile as hell.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The dark livery makes it almost impossible for me to make out and kind of detail in the body.

 

[Seismica]

Are Williams using a third party gearbox this year or did they make their own in-house to fit the Renault engine?

I'm curious as to whether they are continueing development of last years gearbox or if they decided to take a more conservative approach.

 

[ExigeEvan]

My stars... I'm clairvoyant! The walrus tusks... the CF moustache...

Now someone get me a shot of the rear diffuser so I can faint from the shock of my awesomeness...

A Gillette branded moustache as well!

 

[PeterJB]

The dark livery makes it almost impossible for me to make out and kind of detail in the body.

Plus, every image has someone standing in the way of it.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Someone needs to talk to Senna's and Maldonado's sponsors - they're clearly not getting their money's worth, what with those tiny little logos.

 

[ZEROX]

A Gillette branded moustache as well!

You meant blade don't you?

 

[Mike Rotch]

Not sure if it's an optical illusion, but the join of the vertical fins on the nose to the actual wing looks......tenuous.

 

[peter_vod69]

Are Williams using a third party gearbox this year or did they make their own in-house to fit the Renault engine?

I'm curious as to whether they are continueing development of last years gearbox or if they decided to take a more conservative approach.

It's an all-Redbull/Renault drivetrain this year as far as I know, including the KERS package.

 

[Prince.M5]

Not sure if it's an optical illusion, but the join of the vertical fins on the nose to the actual wing looks......tenuous.

Nope, it's not an optical illusion. It really looks tenuous mate. However, it's been said a couple of times up in this thread

 

[Liquid]

The grid's going to look like a barrel of smashed crabs.

Correct. Only the McLaren looks half decent so far.

 

[Harley45]

I'm glad that F1 is on Sky this year, so I can't even watch it accidentally.

The grid's going to look like a barrel of smashed crabs.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Action shot, one where you can actually see detail:

Remove that blade at the end of the engine cowling and you've got the Ligier JS5:

 

[Liquid]

Christ, that Ligier has got Talking Hump Syndrome.

The Williams is ugly and looks bereft of sponsors. Hope things improve.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The Ligier JS5 is perhaps the ugliest Formula 1 car ever raced.

 

[Grand Prix]

AKA "Papa Smurf," or "The Teapot." Another classic case of function over form. In the 70's, if anything offered a significant advantage, they would do it big, with hardly any refinement. I can see how people hate it, but it has a strange 70's appeal to me.

I'm not seeing much resemblance to the Williams though. I think it's one of the better looking stepped-nose designs. The wing supports are most likely just an illusion, they don't look very supporting, but that doesn't mean they aren't. They probably don't need much attachment.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'm not seeing much resemblance to the Williams though.

Look at the triangular blade sticking out from behind the engine cover. Blow the image of the FW34 up to full size, and then cover that blade with your thumb. There is a distinct downwards curve to the engine cowling that looks a lot like the JS5.

 

[Grand Prix]

Look at the triangular blade sticking out from behind the engine cover. Blow the image of the FW34 up to full size, and then cover that blade with your thumb. There is a distinct downwards curve to the engine cowling that looks a lot like the JS5.

Yeah, it does, a little bit. A lot smaller though,

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

It's an all-Redbull/Renault drivetrain this year as far as I know, including the KERS package.

No it's not Williams use their own KERS systems not Red Bull, Caterham though are going to be using RBR systems in their cars along with the Renault engine and RBR gearbox which was used last year as well. As far as the gearbox goes it is said that they reworked the one from last year and brought it back for this years car, due to the technical benefits that will be gained. Let's just hope it works this year.

Back to the release though:
The the front of the car though, I look at the wing shape and noticed that they have a unique design. It seems to have the smallest area out of all the other teams where the struts from the nose connect to the actual front wing. It's almost as if the struts and the nose are seperate. If you look even further you'll notice that they also have a new ducting system on the front of the car which seem to gain air from portions of the front wing directing.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

It's almost as if the struts and the nose are seperate.

It looks incredibly delicate. No doubt it is reinforced, but to me it looks like the front wing could fall off if you blew on it.

 

[peter_vod69]

No it's not Williams use their own KERS systems not Red Bull, Caterham though are going to be using RBR systems in their cars along with the Renault engine and RBR gearbox which was used last year as well. As far as the gearbox goes it is said that they reworked the one from last year and brought it back for this years car, due to the technical benefits that will be gained. Let's just hope it works this year.

Of course, they're trying to make KERS a major part of their commercial side. My mistake.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

It looks incredibly delicate. No doubt it is reinforced, but to me it looks like the front wing could fall off if you blew on it.

Exactly, I feel as if I ran by the front of the car I could generate enough of a draft to knock it off.

 

[magpie1997]

It looks incredibly delicate. No doubt it is reinforced, but to me it looks like the front wing could fall off if you blew on it.

Well the nose goes down then up, where's the logic in that

 

[Prince.M5]

I think the whole front wing flexes downwards to the track in the picture provided by prisonermonkeys. Or is it just my eyes seeing things?

 

[Seismica]

I think the whole front wing flexes downwards to the track in the picture provided by prisonermonkeys. Or is it just my eyes seeing things?

I think it's just the angle of the picture taken and an illusion created by the darker area from the shadow, making it seem closer at that point.

Though theoretically, moving the wing supports right to the back would cause the wing to flex downwards, increasing the wing angle. But I doubt the front wing is long enough to flex at all, so unless they are doing something funny with the supports like Mclaren were doing last year, it's just us seeing things

Doesn't it just remind you of last years Williams in testing where they mounted the rear wing in a silly way that meant it could have snapped off with a strong gust of wind?

 

[csmeteora9]

I shall apologize for not replying to this thread for a while. I should explain that I have been hit with a sudden and unexpected busy spell. Anyhow...

Although I have few complaints about the car's looks, I can't help but notice that visually it is very similar to it's unsuccessful predecessor...

Williams FW33

Williams FW34

Williams FW33

Williams FW34

Overall the profile of the car hasn't changed much at all, the suspension is the same and as far as I can make out the under-body aerodynamics haven't changed a bit either. By the looks of it the exhaust may be blowing gases toward the rear-wing and if it is, it should help produce some extra downforce. On the whole though, the car doesn't seem innovative enough to make a sufficient step forward.

Still, I'm no expert. So I could well be wrong.

 

[amkobih]

I don't think Williams will be better than they were last year.
Also,these cars look really ugly.

 

[tribolik]

Correct. Only the McLaren looks half decent so far.

Their times on the two first testing days dont look so decent but I really hope they mean nothing...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Their times on the two first testing days dont look so decent but I really hope they mean nothing...

Testing times never do mean anything. The teams have their own programmes that they pretty much follow religiously. When Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time early on Tuesday morning, none of the teams raced out to try and beat it, because that's not what testing is about. Without knowing details of the testing programmes, it's impossible to account for the differences between cars, and without being able to account for the differences between the cars, it's impossible to work out who is going to be the fastest in 2012.

Lap times don't mean anything until 2pm on March 17th - when qualifying in Australia begins.

 

[Seismica]

At first glance, I don't make much of this car. The step forward they have made does not appear to be huge. The likes of Force india and Torro Rosso I think have done a better job. I'd even wager Caterham outperforms them comfortably at some circuits.

I hope they don't decline further but I feel they will struggle to get points this year unless other midfield teams struggle with reliability.

.

Then again, at this point last year I had tipped them as the dark horse to get a few podiums from under the noses of Ferrari and Mclaren, and I couldn't have been more wrong (Which wasn't based on their testing times, but on their performances at the end of 2010)