Williams admits low-speed performance needs improving to move up F1 grid

Williams needs to improve its car's low-speed performance if it is to make progress up the grid, reckons chief operations engineer Mark Gillan.

Although the team is convinced that the FW34 is a step forward over last year's disappointing challenger, the Grove-based outfit already understands the areas where things need to be made even better.

"Obviously, you've got to concentrate on where the maximum performance gains will be had," explained Gillan about Williams' focus going forward.

"Aero-wise, slow speed corners are where the laptime is to be found, so you have to concentrate on that. The aero department spent a lot of time looking at the different weightings and ensuring that the car is optimised for where there is maximum return."


With the car appearing to be a handful to drive in slow speed corners, Gillan admitted that it was the area that stood out for the team at the moment.

"It is a better now, and there is a more stable aerodynamic platform because although it's slow, the aerodynamics are still important. It is probably even more important in the slow speed because that's where most of the lap time is to be had.

"In all areas, there's definitely room for improvement, that's for sure, but things are definitely a step in the right direction. Where we were losing time relative to the competition is pretty much in low speed."
Gillan confirmed that an update would be fitted to the car for next week's final pre-season test at Barcelona.

"We learned a lot in Jerez, this week is building on that and getting into race weekend preparation with Pastor [Maldonado]," he said. "Then next week we will have new bits for Australia, make sure that they correlate well and sign that off before we head off.