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The new Williams
Mercedes FW37 was unveiled today ahead of the first pre-season test in
Jerez, Spain. The F1 grid will once again be adorned with the red and blue
stripes that have grown to be so iconic in motorsport as WILLIAMS MARTINI
RACING will be looking to build on their successful 2014 campaign where the
team achieved nine podium finishes and finished third in the Constructors’
Championship.
The team showed strong development throughout last season and aim to
continue this as the regulations show minimal changes for the new season
ahead. There are however a few differences between the FW37 and its
predecessor.
The new rules will see changes to the front nose box and bulkhead of the
car, a move away from the rule that saw so many different variations of nose
throughout the 2014 season.
Commenting on the new FW37, Team Principal and Founder, Sir Frank Williams,
said: “After such a strong season in 2014 we are looking to continue the
move back towards the front of the grid. The move from ninth to third was a
tough challenge, but ultimately every step up from now on will be even
harder. I am confident that we have the appropriate personnel and talent in
this team to make those steps.
‘We have an experienced driver line-up, with both drivers finishing on the
podium throughout last year and hungry for more success in 2015, new
commercial partners to add to the continued support from our already
impressive roster, and have a technical team that is amongst the best on the
grid.
“I am looking forward to seeing the car in testing and assessing how other
teams have fared over the winter in comparison to us. We should, once again,
have a very exciting season ahead of us which will hopefully bring more
success to Williams.”
Felipe Massa added: “The momentum we carry from last year has been very
encouraging, the team has changed so much from 12 months ago and it is clear
to see everyone is heading in a good direction. The development rate of the
FW36 was one of the most exciting elements to the car, the team worked
exceptionally hard throughout the year to make sure that we had a faster car
at each race, and I look forward to a similarly impressive car this year. I
am excited to be continuing to work with Valtteri, a driver with so much
talent who has so much to offer both the team and me as his teammate.”
Valtteri Bottas: “Coming into a season after third position in the
Constructors’ Championship carries the weight of a lot of expectation. Other
teams and our fans are expecting a performance like last year, and all the
personnel at Williams have been working tirelessly to make sure this is not
only achievable but the benchmark for improvement. For much of last year we
had the second fastest car, and this year we plan to take every opportunity
to challenge at the front. After my first podium in 2014 I hope to continue
developing as a driver as I aim for my first win. I look forward to working
closely with Felipe again this year as we strengthen our relationship to
extract the most from the car.”
Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal, concluded: “The team learnt and
developed a lot in 2014 and this has made us a better team and well prepared
for the challenges that face us as we head into a new season. We are all
eager to see where we are in comparison to our rivals. We have worked hard
over the past six months to get this car ready, but it is in no way the
final product, we have a lot of work to do throughout the season as we push
for constant improvements in performance. I am incredibly confident in the
team around me and the line-up we have that 2015 can make it another
successful and exciting year for Williams Martini Racing, and now can’t wait
to get back on track.”
The launch marks the start of the 2015 season for Williams Martini Racing as
a four-day test in Jerez gets underway before moving to Barcelona for a
further eight days of testing. The season officially gets under way at the
first race in Melbourne, Australia, on 15 March. |