Williams FW41

The Williams FW41 is a Formula One racing car designed by Paddy Lowe and Dirk de Beer for the Williams team, to compete in the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship.[2] The car made its competitive debut at the 2018 Australian Grand Prix, and was driven by Lance Stroll in his second season with the team;[6] and Sergey Sirotkin, making his competitive debut in Formula One.[7]

Williams FW41
The FW41, driven by Lance Stroll, during the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix.
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorWilliams–Mercedes
Designer(s)Paddy Lowe (Chief Technical Officer)[1]
Ed Wood (Chief Designer)
Dirk de Beer (Head of Aerodynamics)[2]
PredecessorWilliams FW40
SuccessorWilliams FW42
Technical specifications[3][4][5]
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque, laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb
Suspension (front)Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by push-rods
Suspension (rear)Upper and lower wishbones, inboard springs and dampers actuated by pull-rods
Width2000 mm
Height950 mm
EngineMercedes M09 EQ Power+ 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motorMercedes kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
TransmissionWilliams eight speed seamless sequential semi-automatic shift plus reverse gear, gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated
Weight733kg
FuelPetronas Primax
BrakesAP 6 piston front and 4 piston rear calipers with carbon discs and pads
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry)
Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
Dicastal forged magnesium wheels: 13"
Competition history
Notable entrantsWilliams Martini Racing
Notable drivers18. Lance Stroll
35. Sergey Sirotkin
Debut2018 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
210000

Williams had finished fifth in the Constructors Championship in both 2016 and 2017, but saw their performance decline severely in 2018. Although the car had good reliability, its pace was poor and the team ended up at the back of the field mostly fighting the Toro Rossos. Their first points came in Azerbaijan when Stroll finished 8th. The team would not score points again until Italy, when Stroll and Sirotkin finished 9th and 10th respectively. They finished 10th and last in the Constructors' Championship, their lowest ever position. However, the seven points they scored exceeded the five points scored in both 2011 and 2013.

Design and development

In signing Sergey Sirotkin, Williams formed an alliance with Russian racing outfit SMP Racing, which came with financial investment in the team. While discussing the investment, SMP Racing revealed that under the terms of the agreement their investment would specifically be spent on technical development of the FW41 instead of being used to cover the costs of day-to-day operations.[8]

Testing and development work was carried out by Robert Kubica. The role was Kubica's first with a Formula One team since his 2011 rallying accident that almost resulted in the traumatic amputation of his arm.[9]

The car had problems with its development mainly being cooling, packaging and the aerodynamics which resulted in its uncompetitiveness.

Competition history

2018 was the worst year for Williams since 2013. Although its reliability was good, the car was consistently slow. The car scored points on only two occasions: the first was Stroll finishing 8th in Azerbaijan, and the second was at Monza where the team achieved a double points finish with Stroll finishing 9th and Sirotkin finishing 10th.

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 BHR CHN AZE ESP MON CAN FRA AUT GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN RUS JPN USA MEX BRA ABU
2018 Williams Martini Racing Mercedes P Sirotkin Ret 15 15 Ret 14 16 17 15 13 14 Ret 16 12 10 19 18 16 13 13 16 15 7 10th
Stroll 14 14 14 8 11 17 Ret 17† 14 12 Ret 17 13 9 14 15 17 14 12 18 13

† Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

References
  1. "Mid-February reveal for new Williams". formula1.com. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. "Williams launches 2018 Formula 1 challenger". Speedcafe. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  3. "Mercedes AMG F1 Power Unit M09 EQ Power+ Technical ref". mercedesamgf1.com. Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  4. Mitchell, Scott (12 November 2017). "Pirelli to introduce new softest-compound pink-walled F1 tyre in '18". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017.
  5. "FW41".
  6. "Williams Martini Racing confirms 2017 Abu Dhabi test driver line-up". Williams Martini Racing. 22 November 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017. Lance, as confirmed race driver for 2018
  7. Barretto, Lawrence (16 January 2018). "Sergey Sirotkin beats Robert Kubica to 2018 Williams F1 seat". autosport.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  8. Khorounzhiy, Valentin; Freeman, Glenn (9 February 2018). "Sirotkin backing will be spent on development of Williams F1 car". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  9. Barretto, Lawrence (16 January 2018). "Kubica named Williams' reserve driver". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
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