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Williams have abandoned their test programme at Barcelona this weekend and are heading back to Grove a day early following the problems that have arisen with their front wing. On the first day of the test Kazuki Nakajima suffered a mounting failure on the wing and ploughed off the circuit at high speed. The team immediately suspended Nico Rosberg from running until they had figured out exactly what the problem was. This morning the team ran both cars having repaired Nakajima’s chassis by flying parts out to Spain on Frank Williams’s private jet. However, the squad aren’t entirely convinced the issue has been resolved are instead returning to the factory to prepare for the Jerez test next week. Continue Reading

Following this mornings subdued roll out of the Williams FW30, the team have released a few more photos detailing various parts of the car and Sam Michael has spoken to the media. Williams hope this new car will be a step forward in performance and help push them closer to the Renaults and BMWs, currently occupying the best of the rest zone behind Ferrari and McLaren. The car’s interim livery is also particularly special, thanking the 519 strong workforce at the team for their support and contribution to the ongoing success of the squad, as well as detailing some of the key sponsors over the 29 years of competition. Continue Reading

As far as launches go, this has to be the lowest-key roll out ever. Williams had stated previously that they weren’t too concerned about not holding an official launch party for their new 2008 challenger, citing reasons of there’s nothing to announce. Nico Rosberg is on a long-term contract, Kazuki Nakajima was confirmed last year, Toyota are still the squad’s engine partner and little else has changed, aside from the car. So instead, Williams opted to simply roll the new FW30 car out of the garage and get on with testing. Which, due to dense fog at Valencia this morning, lasted one lap. Continue Reading

Before I begin, just a short note to say that if things look a bit lop-sided at the moment, it is likely because I have moved BlogF1 over to a new server with a new hosting company, Media Temple. I’ll try my best to make sure everything works, but it is a case of learning as I go!

Anyway, on with the post: Who should drive the second McLaren next year? Continue Reading

Williams have today announced that Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima will race for the team during the 2008 campaign. The news comes after Frank Williams vehemently denied that his lead driver and son of former World Champion Rosberg could be switching allegiances in the whole Fernando Alonso saga. Nakajima raced for the squad at the final meeting in Brazil, and although he managed to clout two of his pit crew, the Japanese driver did reasonably well. Nakajima was also the highest place rookie in the GP2 series in 2007. Continue Reading

After unanimous agreement from the Formula One drivers, the FIA are to inspect the pitlane entrance at the Fuji Speedway this evening. According to the drivers, the fast left-right kink that confronts the drivers as the enter the lane from the circuit could prove disastrous if a driver made even the tiniest of errors. This concern about pitlanes follows disgruntlement from several drivers with Spa Francorchamps remodeled pitlane area. Although nobody crashed in the pits in Belgium, a lot of drivers voiced their concern, despite it falling on deaf ears. This time though, the FIA have said they will take a look. Continue Reading

With Williams admitting the shame of 2006 in front of the world’s media at the FW29 launch in February, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the great British team were on a downward spiral and heading for the back of the grid, forever to run around with the Rossos and Spykers. It was a bad year for Williams, and with only a total of 11 points, the tally equaled that of the team’s first season in Formula One back in 1978. However, Williams were once a formidable force in Formula One, and one day they will be again. The signs of improvement have started to appear in winter testing, and the recent partnering with Toyota should be good for the Grove-based squad. So how will they fair in 2007? Let’s take a look at the team and see for ourselves. Continue Reading