Breaking news

Formula 1

Williams still working on 2016 nose design

Williams says it remains undecided about when its definitive 2016 nose will be run for the first time.

Jonathan Noble

Jonathan Noble

Edited: Feb 27, 2016, 1:11 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW38

Felipe Massa, Williams FW38

Felipe Massa, Williams FW38

Felipe Massa, Williams FW38

Felipe Massa, Williams FW38

Felipe Massa, Williams FW38

Felipe Massa, Williams FW38

Alex Wurz, Williams Driver Mentor and GPDA Chairman with Pat Symonds, Williams Chief Technical Officer

Felipe Massa, Williams FW38

Williams FW37 and FW38 comparison

The outfit launched its new Mercedes-powered car with a 2015-specification nose design earlier this month and stuck with it through the first Barcelona test.

However, it is understood that a tweaked concept is being readied for the start of the season - and will likely to appear at some point during next week's Barcelona test.

When asked by Motorsport.com about when the new nose would appear, Williams technical chief Pat Symonds said: “I am not completely certain yet….but this [nose] isn't it.”

Symonds said that the compact pre-season schedule had forced teams into having a different approach to testing, with last week's test more about reliability and next week's about performance.

“I think we are going to see things a bit different this year,” he said. “Not only are we down to eight days of testing but of course, the tests and first race date moved forward once we had already started the project.

“The project of building an F1 car, it is difficult to determine exactly when it starts, but certainly in the early part of the summer, you are into some quite detailed laying out because project plans are established and everything.

“We don't put much slack into the project plans, so to move everything forward a couple of weeks was tough.

“Traditionally when you have had your 12 days of testing, you go through your stuff and the last couple of days you bring your Melbourne package there.

"You spend a couple of days working there and more or less that is what you have at the first race. I don't think we will see so much of that this year," he adds.

"I think we will see new parts introduced in Melbourne on some of the cars, and we will see less of that last minute introduction of bits.”

Car progress

Although Williams avoided headline grabbing times last week, Symonds says he is upbeat about the performance of the car.

When asked if it was a step forward on its 2015 challenger, he said: “That is where our concentration has been, and the drivers and the data tend to suggest that we have picked up there.

“Now it is down to what the other guys have done as well.”

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 Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article F1 forced to delay new qualifying format until Spanish GP

Next article Haryanto spins no surprise, says Manor

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Jonathan Noble



Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours



The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season

Formula 1

Formula 1

The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season



Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

Formula 1

Formula 1

Australian GP

Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

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



How Fernando Alonso scored ninth at Zandvoort - and how Alex Albon lost a similar payday

Formula 1

Dutch GP

How Fernando Alonso scored ninth at Zandvoort - and how Alex Albon lost a similar payday

Latest news



Max Verstappen clears the air with Liam Lawson, but stays tight-lipped on Racing Bulls F1 seat

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

53 min

Max Verstappen clears the air with Liam Lawson, but stays tight-lipped on Racing Bulls F1 seat



"I'll bombard myself with melatonin": Kimi Antonelli admits to driving "tense" and "tired" on cusp of F1 title

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

1 h

"I'll bombard myself with melatonin": Kimi Antonelli admits to driving "tense" and "tired" on cusp of F1 title



Ryo Hirakawa could have "easily" made Q2 in F1 Mexico GP without late traffic

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

1 h

Ryo Hirakawa could have "easily" made Q2 in F1 Mexico GP without late traffic



Carson Kvapil wins Martinsville as Justin Allgaier takes NASCAR O’Reilly points lead

NASCAR O'Reilly

NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly

Martinsville II

1 h

Carson Kvapil wins Martinsville as Justin Allgaier takes NASCAR O’Reilly points lead

Feature

Discover prime content



Why Isack Hadjar deserves a medal, not a warning, after paddock "incident"

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Stuart Codling

Why Isack Hadjar deserves a medal, not a warning, after paddock "incident"



What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Mexico GP

Formula 1

Mexican GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Mexico GP



What’s the state of play at F1’s smallest team?

Formula 1

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What’s the state of play at F1’s smallest team?



Is history really repeating itself? What Christian Horner’s Adrian Newey claim says about Aston Martin and Red Bull

Formula 1

By Ronald Vording

Is history really repeating itself? What Christian Horner’s Adrian Newey claim says about Aston Martin and Red Bull

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:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe