Formula 1
FW26 design a bold initiative
The Williams F1 BMW FW26 is the second step change carried out by the WilliamsF1 design team in two years. Chief Designer Gavin Fisher explains why. While the WilliamsF1 BMW FW25 was stock piling silverware on the racetrack, its architects were ...
Edited: Jan 7, 2004, 1:11 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Williams F1 BMW FW26 is the second step change carried out by the WilliamsF1 design team in two years. Chief Designer Gavin Fisher explains why.
While the WilliamsF1 BMW FW25 was stock piling silverware on the racetrack, its architects were busying themselves with its replacement, the FW26. "The FW26 is not an iteration of its predecessor, which might surprise some people given the former car's relative success", says Chief Designer, Gavin Fisher. But explaining the design approach to the new car, Fisher continues, "You cannot stand still or relax your development pace for a single minute in Formula One."
The new WilliamsF1 BMW FW26.
Photo by Sutton Motorsport Images.
When pressed to define the FW26, Fisher confesses a dislike for the use of the term 'radical', "It is devalued because it is over-used", he reflects, "And to a large extent the possibility is excluded by the restrictive technical regulations that govern Formula One. That said, it will be immediately evident to onlookers that a high degree of innovative design has gone into the FW26". Not so much an iteration, but a step change, and as such, the second carried out by the WilliamsF1 design team in as many seasons.
In the hothouse design environment, the demands on individuals have been high, caused not only by the magnitude of the changes relative to FW25, but also from the intended earlier launch date. "We were conscious that the inability to extract the full potential of the FW25 until well into the season was a significant contribution to our failure to win either Championship. The earlier launch date for FW26 is a clear statement of our intent to be in a position to win from the first race onwards."
The challenges of a fundamentally ground-up design process are multiplex. Routine design improvement processes involve isolating sub-optimal performing elements of a race car, and iterating -- or improving -- the design from the original position. But the FW26 borrows little from its predecessor, and as a consequence, every element, no matter how ancillary, must be designed from scratch.
The WilliamsF1 BMW FW26 amounts to a bold initiative by the team. And in the same way that the FW25 underpinned the most successful season the BMW WilliamsF1 Team has enjoyed, so to the FW26 will prove to be the foundation of the team's fortunes in 2004. Fisher, its principle architect, confirms the team's philosophy:
"There is a great deal of anticipation on our part about this new car. It is has challenged us throughout its development, and there is certainly a sense that the day that it runs for the first time will be more significant than launch days in previous years. All of the team members will be proud that they have made enormous efforts to push the performance of this car as far forward as possible, and that in doing so will have written the opening chapter in what will become a successful season."
-williams-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Williams to start 2004 launches
Next article Renault interview with Briatore
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Williams
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Fernando Alonso blasts driving standards of bottom half of F1 grid
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Fernando Alonso blasts driving standards of bottom half of F1 grid
Latest news
Alex Bowman hits out at critics in snarky post, shooting down early exit rumors
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
6 h
Alex Bowman hits out at critics in snarky post, shooting down early exit rumors
Ryan Blaney gets sweet redemption after 'nightmares' following 2024 Homestead loss
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
6 h
Ryan Blaney gets sweet redemption after 'nightmares' following 2024 Homestead loss
IndyCar 2026 season review: Dale Coyne Racing
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 6 h
IndyCar 2026 season review: Dale Coyne Racing
Noah Gragson apologizes to Daniel Suarez for spinning him at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
7 h
Noah Gragson apologizes to Daniel Suarez for spinning him at Homestead
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe