Williams FW32 Cosworth

[Scotracer]

The engine was a weak point for the car.

[timbo]

The engine was a weak point for the car.

At this point engine can be "weak point" but not Achilles heel.

[axle]

The FW31 had too much drag. It wasn't the engines sole fault as the TF109 was fairly swift in a straight line.

I expect with the intro of full race fuel tanks and the weight increase the "clean sheet design" is going to change their Lift to Drag ratio significantly in the direction of low drag.

[marcush.]

to me the tag too much drag is not really helpful.I really can´t see anyone deliberately throwing away anything in terms of drag numbers.
really what we should talk about lift over drag figures ,as those who carry the low drag tag normally can also be counted towards those who do not really have the car to win ,so they looseout considerably in terms of downforce produced compared to those slower on straight but quickr in corner cars.
But just why would FI not just crank up their wings a few notches to gain the missing counts in DF when they have a seemingly slippery car ? the only thing I can imagine is that they already are close to stall or separation with their wings and would only add drag but no significant downforce in doing this....

[ringo]

The FW31 had too much drag. It wasn't the engines sole fault as the TF109 was fairly swift in a straight line.

I expect with the intro of full race fuel tanks and the weight increase the "clean sheet design" is going to change their Lift to Drag ratio significantly in the direction of low drag.

I agree with this. The Williams was well balanced and was pretty good, almost dominant, in slow speed tracks. The car was much better than people give it credit for.
If the create the new car with similar characteristics with less drag with a stronger engine, they should be able to be competing for wins. Better yet, with Nakajima out things will also look better for the constructors.

[Fil]

The car was much better than people give it credit for.

It was better than what the driver pairing made it seem.
Kazuki was ordinary at best, but coupled with some poor luck.. he made a meal of '09 to William's detriment.
Nakajima cost the team 6th in the constructors i would say.

But i'm not sure the car deserved much more credit than that though. They were better than BMW for sure, but better than the 5th placed team? Arguable..
Toyota started & finished the season much stronger than their distant cousins Williams.


The more i think about their '09 pace, the more a clean sheet FW32 makes sense. They didn't unmask anywhere near the development potential all other teams did.

[Roger the knife]

Apparently Williams are shaking down the FW32 at Silverstone today, are news or pics yet??

[mattclinch]

this has cropped up on RB's website - FW31 with new livery, or FW32?

[roost89]

That's an FW31. Livery looks the same too.

[mattclinch]

oh, i thought the FW31 had the brawn style fin mirrors, not those ferrari style outboard ones, and the FW31 had a much lower nose didn't it? more like this..

EDIT - looks like they had changed both of these things by mid-season.

[imightbewrong]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81104

[roost89]

Edit: I was beaten to it!
FW32 has a different nose and end-plates, lower end to the side-pods at the rest suspension. First glance doesn't reveal much else to my eyes

[imightbewrong]

Edit: I was beaten to it!
FW32 has a different nose and end-plates, lower end to the side-pods at the rest suspension. First glance doesn't reveal much else to my eyes

They seem to have removed the "snow plow" from under the nose, and separated the steering arms from the wishbones on the front suspension. They side pods look much slimmer not the bulge up that ferrari went for (that they used last season).

[wesley123]

the first thing i say here is Photoshop!

Look at the nose, it doesnt seem correctly for me.

[i70q7m7ghw]

the first thing i say here is Photoshop!

Look at the nose, it doesnt seem correctly for me.

Yeah bravo, they photoshopped in an under contruction silverstone as well... sheeesh