Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review


By Williams F1 Team
September 27 2009

 
 Williams Singapore GP Race Review
Having secured P3 on the starting grid and wrestling another position off the start line at the beginning of the race, Nico Rosberg was well set for a repeat of his second place finish at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix when a transgression relegated him to the rear of the field. Jumping the kerb at the pitlane exit, he was unable to recover the car into the pitlane before the white line that drivers must observe before rejoining the race. That unfortunately earned him a mandatory drive-through penalty, which coincided with a safety car period. This sequence of events consigned him to an unrecoverable position towards the rear of the field. Despite the disappointment, Nico’s pace in Q2 as well as in the race itself was encouragement for the team to take forward to next weekend’s race in Japan.
Nico Rosberg: Nico Rosberg
"Today’s outcome was hugely disappointing. I made an unnecessary mistake by braking too late and running over the white line on the pitlane exit. Then the safety car came out at the worst possible moment. It left me with a really horrible feeling, also for the team, knowing that I wouldn’t be second when I have served my drive-through penalty and I would have to spend the rest of the race at the back. The team gave me such a good car this weekend having put more effort into development than anyone else, and I am now determined to use this to best advantage in Japan."
Kazuki Nakajima: 
Nakajima"It was a difficult race and I think I did the best job I could, but it was disappointing not to be able to claim any points. There seemed to be a possibility in the last stint as the car in front of me was struggling with its tyres but as much as focus on the car ahead, I also had to defend from behind, so it was tough to find the balance. The car has been good here and hopefully we can carry this with us to Japan."
Sam Michael Technical Director WilliamsF1:
Sam Michael"Nico had a really good start and showed strong pace all the way to the first pit stop. He had a good strategy for the remainder of the race which was going to put him solidly into P2, but unfortunately he had a problem at the end of the pitlane which cost him a drive-through penalty. It was a real shame because he had done everything right in practice, qualifying and the race, and then had a small mistake that was very costly. We then called him in early for his second stop to vary the strategy in case of another safety car. Kazuki had an uneventful race, but the car pace here has been good all weekend, our upgrades are delivering and we have some more to add to the car for the races ahead."

Marina Bay, Singapore
61 laps, 309.316 kms

Weather: Overcast
Air 29-300C, Track 29- 320C

POS

DRIVER

TEAM

Time (Fastest Lap)

Grid

1

L Hamilton

McLaren

1:56:06.337 (1:48.345, 2nd)

1

2

T Glock

Toyota

+9.634 (1:48.396, 6th)

6

3

F Alonso

Renault

+16.624 (1:48.240, 1st)

5

 
9 K NAKAJIMA
FW31-04 H475
AT&T Williams +56.054 (1:49.371, 13th) 10

11

N ROSBERG
FW31-03 H479

AT&T Williams

+59.777 (1:48.352, 3rd)

3

 

Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: Williams F1 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/09/2009 17:04

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: Umbrella_Girl (IP Logged)
Date: 27/09/2009 17:13

So - more upgrades planned then...nice to see us pushing all the way to the end smiling smiley

Supporters support - fans blow hot and cold...

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: crusty_bread (IP Logged)
Date: 27/09/2009 17:15

"our upgrades are delivering and we have some more to add to the car for the races ahead."

best news Ive heard all day. With teams focussing on nest year, this could be a free hit. I always thought, like last year, that Singapore would be a one off in terms of form, but who knows? Japan is not so good for KERS, and demands a higher downforce package than Belgium/Italy. There is a chance of some good points still, perhaps.

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: Francesc (IP Logged)
Date: 27/09/2009 17:22

Yeah, is good the team keep carrying upgrades, but if the race team continues to do mistakes like today it's useless and you lose development on the FW32

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: crusty_bread (IP Logged)
Date: 27/09/2009 17:27

What FW32?

We can't set the basic parameters until we have an engine to go in it. We may as well take advantage of this delay and make the most of the remaining races rather than twiddle our thumbs.

It could be a blessing is disguise if we somehow pluck a win through developing this car longer than everyone else.

The irony.

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: pgj (IP Logged)
Date: 28/09/2009 09:55

As long as we do not suffer in the way that Ferrari, McLaren and BMW did at the start of the season through racing to the last race of '08.

I hope we do not have a season of torture in the way we did when we put the Toyota engine into a 'Cosworth' chassis.

Williams and proud of it.

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: crusty_bread (IP Logged)
Date: 28/09/2009 14:47

did you really find 2007 torture? We were pretty consistent that year- had you expected far more? I found 2006 more like torture, personally.

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: PABLO 27 (IP Logged)
Date: 28/09/2009 14:50

Or the last year with the last 4 or 5 races never passing Q1

http://i45.tinypic.com/2evb1aw.jpg


GO TEAM WILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: crusty_bread (IP Logged)
Date: 28/09/2009 16:34

Speaking of torture....REUUUUUBBBBBBIIIIIIINNNNHHHHHOOOOOOO

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: PABLO 27 (IP Logged)
Date: 28/09/2009 18:27

Quote:
crusty_bread
Speaking of torture....REUUUUUBBBBBBIIIIIIINNNNHHHHHOOOOOOO

You are enjoying yourself with my signature, aren´t you?

http://i45.tinypic.com/2evb1aw.jpg


GO TEAM WILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:28:18:28:29 by PABLO 27.

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: erratic (IP Logged)
Date: 28/09/2009 18:31

Quote:
pgj
As long as we do not suffer in the way that Ferrari, McLaren and BMW did at the start of the season through racing to the last race of '08.

Next season there is not a huge difference in the rules, as was the case last year, in terms of car design.

Hopefully everything they learn and develop this year will form the basis of - or contribute to - next seasons car.

Re: Williams 2009 Singapore GP Review
Posted by: crusty_bread (IP Logged)
Date: 28/09/2009 18:52

Its hard to say whether out pace in Singapore was entirely due to our upgrades, or flattered due to the fact that we know how to make a car go fast there. You would have to think that we may fall back slightly in Japan- but who knows? This season has been mad, and the FW31 is a very different beast to the FW30, and has not looked any better at eg Monaco/Valencia than say, Silverstone or Hungary.

There is always that hope after seeing us in second place in Singapore that we can repeat that form in Japan. We have upgrades - other teams are shutting up shop, McLaren have made it very clear that they don't expect to do so well in Japan due to aerodynamics, Brawn could be "left in the cold" Red Bull have been all over the place recently- BMW anyone?

So whilst a Williams pole is a stretch of the imagination, there is no guarantee of where the opposition is going to come from either. You just never know what the form will be as Force India so recently proved.

So I see potential. Past form would suggest somewhere P5 P11- but the form card has been pretty consistently ripped up of late.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:28:19:07:13 by crusty_bread.

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