Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Williams F1 changes to ensure legality on display at Australian GP

The Williams Formula 1 team has updated its FW42 ahead of the Australian Grand Prix following concerns over its legality, while also adding a new T-wing element at the rear

Williams had previously been asked to change its front suspension and mirrors by the FIA, which deemed them unsuitable to meet the regulations.

The suspension geometry featured a seventh member mounted aft of the lower wishbone - but this was in direct contravention of Article 10.3.5 of the technical regulations, which permits only six members per suspension upright.

Furthermore, the mirrors have now been made more conventional, with Williams ditching the previous curved design that had been shaped to maximise outwash.

The mirror still uses a shroud, but creates a uniform box around the perimeter of the mirror itself - similar in design to that run by Toro Rosso this season.

With its new design, Williams is still trying to derive some degree of performance from the mirror, albeit not to the extent of the previous design.

In addition to the enforced updates, Williams's 2019 car has also appeared in Australia with a new T-wing design to boost performance at the back of the car.

As seen in Giorgio Piola's image, the wing has two mounting points at the trailing edge of the engine cover fin - the bottom mounting attached to a small extension of this.

The middle section is angled downwards, improving the flow transition over the exhaust section; although this will generate a small degree of lift, the circulating airflow coming out of the exhaust can be directed downwards at the rear crash structure 'flick'.

Moving outboard, the T-wings twist into a cambered profile which will generate a small degree of downforce.

The tips droop downwards, developing tighter and more compact tip vortices to minimise drag.

These vortices can then be used to boost the suction surface of the rear wing, developing a stronger low pressure field at the underside.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Mercedes F1's Bottas wasn't ill over the winter for the first time
Next article Australian Grand Prix practice: Lewis Hamilton leads Ferraris

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe