Williams FW31

[vyselegend]

By far the most elegant design up to now, along the Ferrari. Homegenous livery helps in both cases though.

True the sidepods are maybe the squariest 2009 ones we have seen. It looks like what BMW did with their interim car.

It is rather logic to suggest that the new air intake is for KERS cooling purpose. But is it the dark paint decieving me or is the airbox hole smaller than before. Would it make sense that the 18 000 RPM version of the Toyota engine (+ potentially new lubricants) need less air (richer mixture)? I know it would mean greater fuel consumption, but it could be negated by KERS energy input over a lap?...

Strange the car is missing AT&T and Allianz. Contracts may be in tight negociations by now.

[djos]

Yep, all the air intakes are slightly smaller which makes sense as they are tuned for the engines max RPM.

Those little vents behind the air intake are prolly cooling for their KERS Flywheel system.

[mike]

well just to spare a thought is AERO-KERS even legal??
they could run scoops that redirect the air out of the car when it is not in use
and use the air to spin a turbine and also help the braking?

[djos]

well just to spare a thought is AERO-KERS even legal??
they could run scoops that redirect the air out of the car when it is not in use
and use the air to spin a turbine and also help the braking?

The bloke who posted that is being a smart a$$.

[roost89]

I'm quite liking the design! Especially the chimney-esque bulges above the radiaters. Could they be for cooling? (some pipes may be abnormally close to the top edge) or is it air-flow and probably "for" a crash-structure?

I also agree that there're not enough sponsors ont eh car. I thought AT&T had a longer contract with Williams They're still on the clothing at least
I remember them losing a contract, could it have been Allianz? and Where's Hamleys?

The winter colour scheme doesn't help with finding much out about the car. I look forward to the actual racing livery whenever it may appear

[Diesel]

AT&T is on the front wing?

[roost89]

AT&T is on the front wing?

so it is

[ben_watkins]

Looks lovely in dark blue..

The whole design is fairly easy on the eye too, unlike the seriously ugly Renault!

[Jersey Tom]

Very, very clean looking.

Sidepod openings look a hell of a lot larger then the McLaren.

[modbaraban]

Allianz have extended their sponsorship contract for 2009, AFAIK. Not sure why their stickers are missing on the bodywork.

[joseff]

Is it just me, or is the sidepod hump very... IRL?

[Conceptual]

I like the Williams, but it seriously looks as if they are desperately in need of some fresh blood in their design department.

It seems that the trend of making old new again has struck again. The rear end looks like some of the early Nineties...

[Jersey Tom]

I like the Williams, but it seriously looks as if they are desperately in need of some fresh blood in their design department.

It seems that the trend of making old new again has struck again. The rear end looks like some of the early Nineties...

What's wrong with that?

[gcdugas]

Is it just me, or is the sidepod hump very... IRL?

Not just you.... and without the grooves the tires will have painted sidewalls too.

[pgj]

I like the car. It is the most innovative aero package that we have seen yet. A lot of work has gone into the nose of the car. I just hope that it is fast.

The vents on the air-box are to take air to provide cooling to some other part of the car, hydraulics/KERS. Sam said last year that Williams had spilt the air intake, but may revert to using the air-box to solely breathe the engine.