Tech gallery: How the Williams FW40 evolved throughout 2017

In detail

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The triple element under nose/chassis turning vanes used by Williams feature a broad footplate. Also note the smaller slot in the middle of the lead element.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Australian GP

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The FW40’s front wing featured these unique triangular tabs on the inside upper edge of the endplate (red arrows).

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Australian GP

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The FW40 took advantage of T-wings in two positions, while a blade ran across the top of the engine cover (red arrows).

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Bahrain GP

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Flo-viz paint applied to the front of the car that has naturally migrated with the airflow down the length of the car.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Russian GP

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Mechanics lift into place the car's single piece engine cover.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Spanish GP

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Williams' double element T-wing, complete with steep angle of attack.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Spanish GP

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A close-up of the FW40’s diffuser. Note the small vortex generators on the trailing edge of the plank section.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Monaco GP

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The team added this tall vertical but twisted flap on the outer portion of the diffuser in Monaco.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Monaco GP

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A great shot of the FW40’s front wing from behind showing the details that are often left unseen.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Monaco GP

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The front brake duct sans brake drum/cake tin allows us to see the inner detail.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Canadian GP

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The bargeboard area of the FW40 which was much less complicated at this race than it would be in the following one.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Azerbaijan GP

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Front wing configuration which features just two, shorter chord, top flaps.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Azerbaijan GP

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A more conventional front wing configuration with taller top flaps.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Austrian GP

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Williams revised its front wing pillars in Austria, optimising the trailing edge shape (red arrow), while introducing a slot (yellow highlight).

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Austrian GP

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The FW40’s new bargeboards which featured a taller main bargeboard attached to a cockpit boomerang, multi-element footplate with a small pre-bargeboard that also has a row of smaller winglets.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Austrian GP

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A close-up of the boomerang winglet which, in Williams’ case, is fixed to the top of the bargeboard.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Austrian GP

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Top down view of the sidepod airflow conditioner which has a slot in its trailing edge in order to mirror the slot in the floor below.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

British GP

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Flo-viz applied to the floor around the forwardmost longitudinal floor slot.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Hungarian GP

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Williams' high-downforce, triple element T-wing.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Hungarian GP

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Additional cooling slots opened up around the rear of the cockpit.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Belgian GP

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The butterfly shaped steering wheel used by Williams from behind shows the gearshift and pincer style paddles.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Belgian GP

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The FW40’s rear suspension, which had been modified with a new connection point to the rear wheel upright.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Belgian GP

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The FW40’s rear brake assembly without the brake drum attached shows the brake disc drilling configuration and the pipework used to cool the caliper.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Italian GP

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A closer look at the FW40’s brake drum which features a metal panel with slots in it to dissipate heat generated under braking.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Italian GP

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An overhead view of the floor's tyre spat area ahead of the rear tyre, which featured six L-shaped slots.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Italian GP

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A nice shot of the FW40’s rear end at Monza.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Italian GP

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The differing rear wing configurations used by Stroll and Massa in order to deal with Monza’s high-speed nature. Note the lack of T-wing on Stroll’s car too.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Italian GP

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Massa and Stroll ran very different wings to one another in Italy, both equally focused on drag reduction but the Canadian’s configuration even more so. Note the differing leading edge shapes on the mainplane (highlighted in yellow) and trailing edges of the top flap (dotted green line).

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Singapore GP

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The team added a two-element deflector in Singapore, freeing the sidepod airflow conditioner from its anchor point on the floor. The conditioner was mounted on a new vortex generator (red arrow) while also being brought forward in order that the floor slot needn’t be mirrored (green arrow). The floor's axehead was also split into multiple elements (blue arrow).

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

United States GP

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A close-up of the two element deflectors and split floor axehead introduced in Singapore.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Mexican GP

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An overview of the FW40’s rear end including full length shark fin, T-wings, monkey seat and hig- downforce rear wing.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Brazilian GP

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This overhead close-up of the cockpit affords us the opportunity to see the clutch paddle enclosures which give the driver more feel for the clutch position.

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Brazilian GP

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A close-up of the FW40’s front wing pillars which have a slot placed in them to allow airflow to migrate.

Photo by: Mark Sutton

Abu Dhabi GP

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A great top-down overview of the FW40’s rear end including coke bottle bodywork shaping, rear suspension, rear wing and T-wings.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Abu Dhabi test

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Attached to the front brake duct is an elegantly designed camera rig support, the design of which aims to remain as aero neutral as possible in order that airflow is not significantly affected and the behaviour being monitored is not impacted.

Photo by: Mark Sutton