Latest technical upgrades before Melbourne in pictures

Finally a central support pillar on the Williams 

Last year’s Williams FW36 did not sport any central support pillar. Neither did its 2015 replacement during the first two pre-season tests. But the Grove-based team eventually introduced a reversed Y-shaped mounting pillar on its new challenger.

Starting from the exhaust, the structure has two feet that merge into a single, thin pillar supporting the main plane. The assembly sits right before the rear wing and curls to reach its top section. Fitted with the DRS mechanism, the “swan neck” design is actually responsible for the opening of the upper flap.

Williams seems to have found a way to compensate the inherent disruption coming off any central support pillar. This also means that the rear wing’s endplates, which are structurally designed to take on a support role, can be thinner and shaped with more flexibility and freedom.

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Nicolas Carpentiers

Nicolas Carpentiers is F1i.com's resident technical expert, providing in-depth technical analysis and casting his critical eye across the developments of the teams throughout the season.

Recent Posts

Ferrari mulling whether to roll out new floor upgrade in Bahrain

Ferrari is reportedly divided on whether to introduce a new floor upgrade for the team’s…

6 days ago

Jacques Villeneuve's first claim to fame

Jacques Villeneuve turns 54 on this day, and its an opportunity to remind everyone of…

6 days ago

Cowell admits Aston Martin has ‘a lot of work to do’

Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell has openly acknowledged that the Silverstone-based outfit faces a…

6 days ago

Red Bull junior Isawa to replace Verstappen in Bahrain FP1

Red Bull junior Ayumu Isawa Ayumu Iwasa has joined Formula 1’s flurry of rookie drivers…

6 days ago

Russell's 'calmness and confidence' working well for Mercedes

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin says George Russell has emerged as a calm, confident…

6 days ago

Colapinto back in the saddle with Alpine at Monza TPC test

While Alpine’s race team battled it out at the Japanese Grand Prix last Sunday, reserve…

7 days ago