Williams FW35
Valtteri Bottas driving the FW35 at the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorWilliams
Designer(s)Mike Coughlan (Technical Director)
Ed Wood (Chief Designer)
Jason Somerville (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorWilliams FW34
SuccessorWilliams FW36
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisMonocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb surpassing FIA impact and strength requirements
Suspension (front)Double wishbone, push-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)Double wishbone, pull-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar
EngineRenault RS27-2013[2] 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 (90°). Naturally aspirated, 18,000 RPM limited with KERS, mid-mounted.
TransmissionWilliams F1 seven speed seamless sequential semi-automatic shift plus reverse gear, gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated
Weight642 kg (1,415.4 lb) (with driver)
FuelTotal Excellium with ATL Kevlar-reinforced rubber bladder fuel system
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)[3]
RAYS forged magnesium wheels
Competition history
Notable entrantsWilliams F1 Team
Notable drivers16. Venezuela Pastor Maldonado[4]
17. Finland Valtteri Bottas[4]
Debut2013 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2013 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
190000

The Williams FW35[5] was a Formula One racing car designed and built by the Williams team for use in the 2013 Formula One season. It was driven by Pastor Maldonado and 2011 GP3 Series champion Valtteri Bottas in his Formula One debut.[4]

Launch, engine and testing

The car was launched on 19 February at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, with the team using an interim version of the FW34 for the first test in Jerez de la Frontera.[6] This was also the team's last season using a Renault engine before a new long term deal with Mercedes was activated for 2014.

Competition history

The FW35 was faced with a difficult debut when the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile declared its exhaust system to be illegal the day the car was launched, forcing the team to revise design.[7] Despite this setback, Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas declared themselves to be happy with the development of the car after completing its winter testing programme.[8]

However, the scheduled updates that the team introduced for the first race in Australia did not work as planned, with Maldonado declaring the car to be "undriveable", and that the team had set themselves back three years,[9] though he did acknowledge that his struggles with the car may have been down to a combination of the characteristics of the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit and the team's inability to find a proper car setup for the extreme conditions experienced over the race weekend.[10] Nevertheless, the team made the decision to revert the FW35 back to its launch specification before the race.[11]

2013 was a massive disaster for the team, similar to 2011. The team was eliminated in Q1 mostly along with Marussia and Caterham, and failed to score a point until Hungary, when Maldonado finished 10th. Bottas, on the other hand, qualified an impressive third in Canada, but could only finish 14th, and he failed to score a point until Austin, when he finished 8th. The team finished 9th in the Constructors’ Championship, with 5 points, their equal-worst season.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
AUS MAL CHN BHR ESP MON CAN GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN KOR JPN IND ABU USA BRA
2013 Williams F1 Team Renault RS27-2013 P Pastor Maldonado Ret Ret 14 11 14 Ret 16 11 15 10 17 14 11 13 16 12 11 17 16 5 9th
Valtteri Bottas 14 11 13 14 16 12 14 12 16 Ret 15 15 13 12 17 16 15 8 Ret
Sources:[12]

References

  1. ^ "Williams FW35 - F1technical.net".
  2. ^ Beer, Matt (4 July 2011). "Williams to run Renault engines again from 2012". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  3. ^ Noble, Jonathan; Beer, Matt (11 December 2013). "F1 teams expert enough to avoid early tyre struggles – Ross Brawn". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Collantine, Keith (28 November 2012). "Bottas joins Maldonado at Williams for 2013". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  5. ^ "No 'step nose' on Williams's 2013 car – Bottas". TopCar.za. 9 January 2013. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  6. ^ Collantine, Keith (18 January 2012). "Williams to run 2012 car at first test". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  7. ^ Benson, Andrew (19 February 2013). "Williams and Caterham exhaust designs deemed 'illegal'". BBC F1. BBC. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  8. ^ Collantine, Keith (20 February 2013). "Maldonado says FW35 is "the best car I've had"". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Maldonado: Williams car is undriveable". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  10. ^ Collantine, Keith (16 March 2013). "Maldonado: Williams are "back to three years ago"". F1 Fanatic. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Williams set to return to launch spec". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  12. ^ "All championship race entries, in a Williams FW35". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
    "Williams FW35". StatsF1. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
    "Classifications". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Williams FW35.
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