FW28 to return WilliamsF1 to the top

At the launch of WilliamsF1's 2006 challenger, the FW28, WilliamsF1's Patrick Head spoke of how he expected the new car to return the WuilliamsF1 team back amongst those teams that are serious championship contenders.

After seeing the WilliamsF1 team lose their supply of BMW engines, after a season that would see the team fail to win a race Head spoke of how the team is aiming to put this difficult time behind them.

When interviewed at the FW28 launch Head said: "I'm expecting it to make a difference. I am expecting to win races but I've been in this business long enough to know you don't so much talk up your position. You don't design a car to finish, you design to win."

Head added: "We are confident in the engine and, as has been said, we have done a lot more aero development on this car but it is quite difficult when the car has not yet turned a wheel on the track.

"There is some fairly complex steering geometries, suspension geometries that are intended to do certain things and it is not until we get on the track we will find out whether those geometries really do get the best out of the tyres.

"We have a pretty good chassis dynamometer, but it is not so sophisticated that it can simulate all the conditions on the track. But I am optimistic about the 2006 season."

Supporting Head in view that the FW28 should return to the WilliamsF1 team return to join the likes of McLaren was Technical Director Sam Michael.

Michael added: "The FW28 has a lot resting on its shoulders and it must re-establish Williams at the sharp end. There are many good teams in formula one now and how to beat them is simple: design a faster car. The FW28 has been a large departure due in part to new aerodynamic efficiency targets, but also the mechanical challenges of changing to Bridgestone tyres and Cosworth's V8 engine. It has been a really interesting car to design and I believe that will continue to be the case during its development."

2006 will see the FW28 running with Cosworth power and Cosworth's Head of F1 Development Alex Hitzinger also spoke of how 2006 was a year in which not only WilliamsF1 was looking at returning to the top but also Cosworth. The WilliamsF1 team will be investing in Cosworth's development programme with the new type 2.4l V8 CA engine.

Hitzinger said: "We both have something to prove this year and this is when we will be at our best."

The WilliamsF1 team will also be introducing the 'seamless shift' technology that has been developed for its seven-speed continuous transmission. The aim of this technology is to increase the speed of gear changes and could be worth up to four-tenths of a second over the average racing lap.


As for the team drivers Head commented on Mark Webber. He said that Mark was one of the quickest drivers in qualifying and now starting his second year at the team, he could be a winner.

Head said: "If the car is good enough, he can win -- no doubt about it.".