Williams FW44

[ENGINE TUNER]

Could the wider sidepod intakes have anything to do with running an air to air intercooler? I assume the rest of the cars we've seen so far run air-water-air intercoolers.

Merc have long been rumored to run both.

[variante]

That sidepod layout reminds me of a solution i tried a couple of years ago for the Mantium Challenge (an aero competition with "relaxed" F1 rules).



It was especially useful to catch the upwash coming from the front wing (this Williams looks like has a lot of it) and to shoot it where needed (down and out).



The youtuber "B Sport" (a former F1 aerodynamicist) described the Williams inlets as "parachutes". In fact, i expect to see larger outlets at some point, in accordance with my layout (although not to such extreme).

But it might as well be a totally unrelated concept... We shall see.

[McMika98]

It was especially useful to catch the upwash coming from the front wing (this Williams looks like has a lot of it) and to shoot it where needed (down and out).

The larger inlet area to catch upwash makes sense in that Williams have gone for a massive inboard loaded wing.
The downwash on the sidepod is the steepest so far, Gary A and other pundits werent a fan as it will creatw flow separation. The hole in the sidepod is ingenius if it works, no team will be able to copy the design this year.

[Stu]

That sidepod layout reminds me of a solution i tried a couple of years ago for the Mantium Challenge (an aero competition with "relaxed" F1 rules).

https://i.imgur.com/Dvo34nN.png

It was especially useful to catch the upwash coming from the front wing (this Williams looks like has a lot of it) and to shoot it where needed (down and out).

https://i.imgur.com/l8TNYTX.png

The youtuber "B Sport" (a former F1 aerodynamicist) described the Williams inlets as "parachutes". In fact, i expect to see larger outlets at some point, in accordance with my layout (although not to such extreme).

But it might as well be a totally unrelated concept... We shall see.

I’m going to look foolish if I am wrong, but I happen to think that this is almost exactly what Ferrari are doing, except that their version operates vertically. If I were using the shapes that they are, it is certainly what I would be looking to do with the space available!!
‘IF’ you can control the airflow into the hollow section and create a nice volume (plenum) in the body; the outlet, correctly designed, will create thrust (due to the ‘ram-air’ effect occurring at the opening). This effect will vary with speed (in theory the faster the speed the more thrust that would be created, but the exact operating range would be determined by the whole design along with the external flows).

[tomazy]

Here is an onboard of the first lap of FW44. Williams stuck with the buterfly stearing wheel with the disply on the chassis.
Link

[the EDGE]

Here is an onboard of the first lap of FW44. Williams stuck with the buterfly stearing wheel with the disply on the chassis.
Link

Makes me wonder if the drivers prefer this position, I can't imagine it's too hard to put the display on the wheel

[marvin78]

The steering wheel is much cheaper this was. That's the reason.

[tomazy]

But, what are the advantages of display on the steering wheel?? I don't think that the drivers are looking at the display while turning anyway, so maybe only that te display is closer and is easier to see becouse of that?

[ScrewCaptain27]

But, what are the advantages of display on the steering wheel?? I don't think that the drivers are looking at the display while turning anyway, so maybe only that te display is closer and is easier to see becouse of that?

It makes the steering wheel lighter and easier to turn, reducing effort required during the race distance.

[nevill3]

One of the reasons I read previously was that the wheel had less "inertia" due to it's lower weight. I think it was inertia

[AeroDynamic]

Full lap around Silverstone onboard with Latifi. Good footage – 1080pHD
The screen is still dash-based rather than designed into the wheel

[tomazy]

One of the reasons I read previously was that the wheel had less "inertia" due to it's lower weight. I think it was inertia

But, what are the advantages of display on the steering wheel?? I don't think that the drivers are looking at the display while turning anyway, so maybe only that te display is closer and is easier to see becouse of that?

It makes the steering wheel lighter and easier to turn, reducing effort required during the race distance.

I would think that the steering wheel with the display is havier, so that would be a disadvantage?

[marvin78]

Alexander Wurz once said in an ORF live coverage that the only reason for this are the costs. One display in the car vs. several for a season.

[Mattchu]

For me the potential trouble is if the screen starts malfunctioning it`s not an easy swap out to get it (potentially) working again. We`ve seen several times drivers getting a steering wheel change because something went awry!

Nice video of the car in action, I know he wasn`t pushing it very much but the car did seem reasonably stable with just a few lock ups and twitches...hoping Williams do alright this year...

[Big Tea]

Would it also mean the driver can see the display just by dropping his eyeline rather than tilting the head/helmet?
I know the distance is very small but the closer to the eyes the smaller the focal shift becomes.