Williams FW43

[PlatinumZealot]

They have begun copying Mercedes. Good sign.

[Morteza]

Testing different rear wings in FP

[astracrazy]

Did they forget to bring a Monza spec or something

[SmallSoldier]

Did they forget to bring a Monza spec or something

Probably not enough races to build a “one-race” spec part(s)... Similar to Mclaren last year, when they showed to Monza without a low downforce package.

When the funds are limited, you have to focus on what works in most races.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[alex aero]

Williams tested a modified version of it´s barge boards during FP1.



It has a new connection to the chassis that seems to produce a bit of downwash to guide more air under the floor and to the diffusor. Also at the outer edge of the barge boards has some small modifications. The front vane has a slightly different conture at it´s front edge and the vertical strakes of the boomerang have a different angle at the lower end.

[PlatinumZealot]

That is a photo from winter testing.

[wesley123]

That is a photo from winter testing.

The top one definitely isn't

[Blackout]

These conditions provide great natural flowviz pics

[alex aero]

The video from the official Formula 1 youtube channel show´s the big progress Williams made from last year.
The rear is much more stable, especially under acceleration out of tight corners.



If you compare the lap times with Mercedes during qualifying in Bahrain over the past 5 years, it´s obvious that the FW43 is the first car since 2017 that is an improvment over its predecessor.

                 2016              2017              2018              2019              2020
Mercedes     1:29.493 (Q3)     1:30.814 (Q3)     1:28.124 (Q3)     1:28.190 (Q3)     1:27.264 (Q3)
Williams       + 1.66 (Q3)       + 0.56 (Q3)       + 3.29 (Q1)       + 3.57 (Q1)       + 2.03 (Q1)

In 2018 and 2019 they massively lost ground by changing the concept of the car completely each time. Now they seem to have a stable platform they can build on.

[Valerio1987]

Apart GRO massive incident...

Russel have another base start, he Lost ground due to starting slot? He pass last on First corner with Latifi.

Te car development from te start of the season basically go well, and now the car have more stable performance in race than It have in mid season. Maybe now the fw43 have similar performance of Alfa and Haas but not capitalise in scoring points.

[Blackout]

Finally I think I understand why the Last Williams cars have that big bulge around the engine.
1-it's because their tub is particularly wide in that area and 2-because the bodywork needs to circumvent the intercooler-to-manifold pipe (left hand sidepod) which needs to bypass the wide tub flanks too.
So why is their tub so massive in that area? Maybe because the monocoque, and fuel tank, sides are deeply undercut at their base (to free some space for the coolers) so, to keep it low and short, they need to widen the top of the tub in order to fit a big enough fuel tank..?