Carlos Sainz has been clear: for Williams to fight for the podium again, the car needs to lose weight and gain aerodynamic downforce. After a complicated start to the season, the Spanish driver is confident that these improvements will allow him to have the most competitive car in the middle of the grid by the end of the year. An ambitious goal, but a necessary one.
Diet and aerodynamics as key development areas 🏎️
The FW47's excess weight hampers its performance in slow corners and accelerates tire wear. Shedding kilos involves revising the bodywork structure and internal components, while aerodynamics aims to generate more downforce without penalizing top speed. Williams is working on an upgrade package that combines weight reduction with new wings and a redesigned floor. The goal is to gain tenths without resorting to extreme solutions.
The miracle of building a light car without breaking the bank 🔧
Sainz is asking for magic, but Williams has a modest team budget. While Red Bull and Ferrari use carbon fiber from another planet, in Grove they are trying to slim down the car by dusting off the seats. If they manage to reduce the weight, perhaps the car will fly. Or maybe they'll just manage to make it not look like a brick on wheels. All for the sake of seeing Carlos smile.