Big improvements needed for the FW30


FW30 at Jerez
By Andrew Hooper
February 14 2008

According to Williams Technical Director Sam Michael big improvements are still needed for the FW30 if they wish to challenge the likes of McLaren and Ferrari. This is despite some impressive performances from the new car in recent test sessions. Michael added that the FW30 was an improvement over last years car but that the team must aim to keep moving forward as the season progresses.

 
 Big improvements needed for the FW30
 

Since the unveiling of the AT&T Williams teams 2008 FW30 the performance of the new car has drawn favourable comments but despite this Williams Technical Director Sam Michael still feels that the new car is still far from what is required to challenge the top teams in Formula One, McLaren and Ferrari.

Sam MichaelIn an interview with Autosport.com Michael spoke of how he felt that the FW30 has not achieved the performance they want with the new car, but that is was an improvement over the 2007 model.

"We've got a good reference but we're definitely not quick enough to go and win Grands Prix, which is what our target is," said Michael. "We're still far enough from McLaren and Ferrari that we need to take some big steps to compete with them.

"But the car's a good step on from where it was last year, and we finished the season relatively strongly. If we can keep going in that direction then that is the most important thing."

As for where they are relative to other teams Michael said that this is always something that is difficult to assess. Michael rated the BMW team fairly highly based on their testing performances.

Michael added: "It's always difficult to see other team's problems because they're not always visible from the outside. And you think they're major problems but there will be other things behind the scenes.

"I don't think BMW have much of a problem looking at their lap times in the last day of Valencia and all the way through Barcelona.

"They are competitive - they may not be where McLaren and Ferrari are but they're definitely at the front of the chasing pack."
 

 Big improvements needed for the FW30
Posted by: Williams F1 (IP Logged)
Date: 14/02/2008 19:39

 Big improvements needed for the FW30

Re:  Big improvements needed for the FW30
Posted by: Mehryar (IP Logged)
Date: 14/02/2008 20:31

Hmm, good to see he's realistic and sets target on big achivements...btw from what he says, we're still fighting against renault and RBR with BMW stronger, hope they'll find something to change that before season start.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1095/mehryarsigyo7.gif

Re: Big improvements needed for the FW30
Posted by: pgj (IP Logged)
Date: 14/02/2008 20:35

This is the first car that we have designed and built for the Toyota engine. So far it seems to be a step forward from the FW29. If we can develop the car throughout the season in the same way we did last year, then we should be in for a pretty good season.

Williams and proud of it.

Re: Big improvements needed for the FW30
Posted by: Gunk (IP Logged)
Date: 14/02/2008 23:29

Quote:
pgj
This is the first car that we have designed and built for the Toyota engine.

Then again, Honda and Toyota have only built cars for the same engines and . . . they've screwed up. Big time.

Re: Big improvements needed for the FW30
Posted by: ndsask (IP Logged)
Date: 15/02/2008 04:50

The deal with Toyota was announced in late July 2006 but FWB told us that Williams engineers had been in Cologne working with Toyota engineers weeks before that so I think it's a bit of an exaggeration to say the FW30 is the first car designed and built for the Toyota engine. Obviously, Williams has more familiarity with the homologated Toyota engine, but so does every other team have familiarity with its engine. Really, with the SECU and the homologated engines built according the very tight restrictions on weight, dimensions, etc I don't think engines have been less relevant to performance differentiation since the days of the Cosworth DFV.

The most intriguing difference between the FW29 and FW30 is the man heading the aerodynamics programme, Jon Tomlinson, and what Rosberg said Wednesday ("The aerodynamics was always our weak point so far. It's good to see we've made up terrain especially in this area.") was the most encouraging thing I have heard in years. Finally, Williams may have found the man to end the aero nightmare that has existed since Newey left.

Re: Big improvements needed for the FW30
Posted by: StuffOfLegend (IP Logged)
Date: 15/02/2008 05:56

Quote:
Gunk
Quote:
pgj
This is the first car that we have designed and built for the Toyota engine.

Then again, Honda and Toyota have only built cars for the same engines and . . . they've screwed up. Big time.

not entirely true in either case, as Toyota scrapped a V12 then had to deal with the change from V10 > V8. Honda/BAR would have gone though the same.

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7343/logotipoon6.jpg

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