Williams FW33

Williams FW33
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorWilliams
Designer(s)Sam Michael (Technical Director)
Ed Wood (Chief Designer)
Jon Tomlinson (Chief Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorWilliams FW32
SuccessorWilliams FW34
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Carbon-fibre double wishbone arrangement, with composite toelink and pushrod-activated springs and anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)As front, except pullrod activated rear dampers
EngineCosworth CA2011k 2.4 L (146 cu in) 90° V8, limited to 18,000 RPM with KERS naturally aspirated mid-mounted
TransmissionSeven-speed sequential semi-automatic gearbox with reverse gear electro-hydraulically actuated seamless-shift
Weight640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver)
FuelBP
TyresPirelli P Zero
Rays Wheels (front and rear): 13"
Competition history
Notable entrantsAT&T Williams
Notable drivers11. Brazil Rubens Barrichello
12. Venezuela Pastor Maldonado
Debut2011 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2011 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
190000

The Williams FW33 was a Formula One racing car developed by Williams F1 for the 2011 Formula One season. It was driven by Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello and 2010 GP2 Series champion and rookie driver Pastor Maldonado. The car was shaken down at Silverstone on 28 January 2011, and made its full on-track debut at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, on 1 February 2011[2] in an interim testing livery. The definitive livery was released on 24 February, adding white, silver and red to the existing dark blue in a design directly inspired by the Rothmans livery used from 1994 to 1997.

Season review

During the course of the season, it became clear that the car was much less competitive than the Williams FW32 as the car tended to lack pace and struggled in races. Both drivers retired from the first two races of the season. In the next three races, both drivers finished, but failed to score any points. This made it the worst start to a season in the history of the Williams team. Monaco saw an improvement in the team's fortunes as Barrichello finished 9th. It could have been a double points finish for the team, but Maldonado retired after a collision with Lewis Hamilton, but was classified in 18th place after finishing more than 90% of the race. The same result also occurred in the chaotic 2011 Canadian Grand Prix where Barrichello finished 9th and Maldonado again retired after he spun off during the race. No more points were to come for the team until Spa, where Maldonado scored his first point with tenth place. This turned out to be the FW33's final point in F1; the team eventually finished the year ninth in the World Constructors' Championship standings, with five points, the team's lowest finish since its inaugural season in 1978.

Livery

The car ran with white sidepods with an image of an origami bird in response to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Complete Formula One results

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

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Points WCC
2011 AT&T Williams Cosworth CA2011K V8 P AUS MAL CHN TUR ESP MON CAN EUR GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN JPN KOR IND ABU BRA 5 9th
Barrichello Ret Ret 13 15 17 9 9 12 13 Ret 13 16 12 13 17 12 15 12 14
Maldonado Ret Ret 18 17 15 18 Ret 18 14 14 16 10 11 11 14 Ret Ret 14 Ret

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

References

  1. ^ "FW33 Tech Spec". AT&T Williams. Williams F1. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Williams to debut FW33 at Valencia test". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.