Formula 1 Racing

Williams claws up from the back of the grid

Williams FW45 brake caliper

Let’s take a look at the FW45’s finer details and how it was modified during the season in order to make that leap forward in the pecking order.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Williams FW45 brake caliper

Williams were one of a handful of teams that opted to use tube-like fins on the surface of its front brake caliper in order to help reduce weight and improve cooling.


Williams FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams FW45 technical detail

A close up of the FW45’s front wing at the Australian Grand Prix shows how much wider the static inboard section of their wing was when compared with many of its rivals.


Williams FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams FW45 technical detail

A close up of the floor cutout and underfloor tab wing and skate used at the start of the season by Williams.


Williams FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams FW45 technical detail

It employed a conventional front wing endplate design and an S-shaped diveplane arrangement.


Williams FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams FW45 technical detail

A rear wing on the lower end of the downforce spectrum was used by Williams in Australia.


Williams FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams FW45 technical detail

Comparatively, it employed a high downforce rear wing in Monaco.


Williams FW45 rear detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams FW45 rear detail

A shot of the rear wing at the Spanish Grand Prix without the upper flap in place shows how it’s put together.


Williams FW45 Technical detail

Williams FW45 Technical detail

A rear end shot of the FW45 in Spain shows that while the team chose a higher downforce rear wing configuration, it’s paired with just a single beam wing element. Also note the upwash swage line added to the lower half of the endplate’s outer face at the Australian Grand Prix.


Williams FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams FW45 technical detail

As mechanics prepare the car for the Austrian Grand Prix we’re offered a decent vantage point of the bib and the damper arrangement mounted between it and the chassis.


Williams FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Filip Cleeren

Williams FW45 technical detail

An overview of the floor’s edge, with the C-shaped forward cutout and the tapering cutout in the rear portion, ahead of the tab wing and underfloor skate.


Williams FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Matt Kew

Williams FW45 technical detail

A close up of the lower downforce rear wing solution employed at the British Grand Prix.


Williams FW45 rear detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams FW45 rear detail

An even lower downforce variant was chosen for the Belgian Grand Prix.


Williams Racing FW45 technical detail

Photo by: Uncredited

Williams Racing FW45 technical…

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