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Finnish Phenom' Valtteri Bottas behind the
wheel of the new FW36 at Jerez. (Image source: f1fanatic.co.uk)
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The storied Formula 1 Constructor Williams,
which we all know under the watchful tutelage of team founder Sir Frank
(Williams) and departed co-owner Patrick Head has struggled in the past few
years to live up to the heights of expectations, after all being the second
most successful Constructor on the grid - having fallen to a lowly ninth place
in the Constructor's title fight last season with a measly 5-points.
Thus Team 'Willy has brought on a raft of new
key engineering personnel, including new Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds to
lead the charge in the Grove-based squad's resurgence, which the team hopes to
do so this season.
Reportedly the front nose utilizes a
"finger" style treatment to conform with the new rules package while
the biggest technical change is the ditching of 'Reggie (Renault) power and
taking on their very first ever 'Merc lump, as the Mercedes Benz V-6 turbo unit
was the class of the field at this year's first winter test in Jerez.
And while the McLaren MP4-29 has been making
waves with its controversial rear wing suspension treatment, little seems to
being mulled over the Williams FW36's rear suspension treatment which also
features some sort of wing attachment, not to mention its novel wing-flap
underneath its exhaust.
On the driver front, one can only argue that
the team has also improved its lineup with the addition of the amiable
Brazilian Felipe Massa over last year's Hot-head Pastor Maldonado while I'm looking
for great things from F1 sophomore Valtteri Bottas, who's just been
lacking a decent mount to show off his prodigious talents! As I'm looking
forward to seeing the Martini cars - a long rumoured sponsorship deal in the
Pipeline being back up towards the sharp end of the grid this year...
CHASSIS INFO
Team: Williams
Chassis: FW36
Engine: Mercedes Benz
Drivers
(Car#/Name)
19) Felipe Massa
77) Valtteri Bottas