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Williams aims to oust Ferrari with innovative new car
Barcelona, Feb 01: The BMW Williams F1 team has presented its new FW25 formula one car in Barcelona featuring an innovative chassis, strong engine and raising the expectations of the team for the 2003 season.
Barcelona, Feb 01: The BMW Williams F1 team has presented its new FW25 formula one car in Barcelona featuring an innovative chassis, strong engine and raising the expectations of the team for the 2003 season.
Barcelona, Feb 01: The BMW Williams F1 team has presented its new FW25 formula one car in Barcelona featuring an innovative chassis, strong engine and raising the expectations of the team for the 2003 season.
"I am excited by it because it is so important and a lot of work and thought has gone into it. It's different but it's all constructed within a set of rules that apply to everybody so it is not that different. Right now I am enthusiastic and excited, he said at the launch of the new FW25 car at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Williams were runners up last year but won just one race, Ralf Schumacher leading a one-two in the Malaysian Grand Prix last March. Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya started seven times on pole position and claimed the fastest qualifying lap ever at Monza.
Ferrari introduced their new F2002 after Ralf won that race and were immediately in a class of their own, winning 15 of the 17 races in a record-breaking season.
Williams, winners of nine constructors' titles and seven drivers championships between 1980 and 1997, recognised afterwards that they would have to develop a more aggressive car to close the gap.
The new car is shorter than last year's and, despite limitations imposed by the regulations, has a new aerodynamic package.
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said the new P83 engine was designed to be, like last year's model, the most powerful engine in Formula One.
New rules have been introduced for 2003 with single-lap qualifying, a new points structure and the elimination of so-called electronic 'driver aids'.
Gerhard Berger, Theissen's co-director at BMW, was in favour of the new rules.
"I personally like it because I think that might cure both problems, it should reduce costs and it gives again more input from the driver and that is very important, and the fans like to see sliding cars and they like to see good starts, bad starts. I think it is a good step in a good direction, Berger said.
The new car was driven around the circuit after the presentation by Montoya and Schumacher before starting full testing on Saturday with Spaniard Marc Gene as official test driver.
Bureau Report
Williams, winners of nine constructors' titles and seven drivers championships between 1980 and 1997, recognised afterwards that they would have to develop a more aggressive car to close the gap.
The new car is shorter than last year's and, despite limitations imposed by the regulations, has a new aerodynamic package.
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said the new P83 engine was designed to be, like last year's model, the most powerful engine in Formula One.
New rules have been introduced for 2003 with single-lap qualifying, a new points structure and the elimination of so-called electronic 'driver aids'.
Gerhard Berger, Theissen's co-director at BMW, was in favour of the new rules.
"I personally like it because I think that might cure both problems, it should reduce costs and it gives again more input from the driver and that is very important, and the fans like to see sliding cars and they like to see good starts, bad starts. I think it is a good step in a good direction, Berger said.
The new car was driven around the circuit after the presentation by Montoya and Schumacher before starting full testing on Saturday with Spaniard Marc Gene as official test driver.
Bureau Report