FW42: Racing to New Horizons

Introduction

The FW42 is a Formula One racing car designed and built by the Williams Formula One team for the 2019 season. The car was unveiled on February 11, 2019, ahead of pre-season testing in Barcelona. The FW42 is the first car to be designed under the technical leadership of Paddy Lowe, who joined Williams as Chief Technical Officer in 2017.

Design and Development

The FW42 features a new livery, with the traditional Williams colors of blue and white being replaced by a predominantly white design with blue and black accents. The car also features a more aggressive aerodynamic design compared to its predecessor, the FW41. The team has made significant changes to the car’s cooling system and rear suspension in an effort to improve performance on track.

Testing and Performance

The FW42 made its track debut at the first pre-season test in Barcelona, where it immediately faced reliability issues. The team struggled to get the car up to speed, with drivers George Russell and Robert Kubica experiencing a lack of grip and balance. Despite the setbacks, Williams remained optimistic about the potential of the FW42 and continued to work on improving its performance throughout the season.

Racing to New Horizons

As the 2019 season progressed, the FW42 showed signs of improvement, with Russell and Kubica both scoring points in the German Grand Prix. The team continued to develop the car, introducing upgrades at various races in an effort to close the performance gap to their rivals. While the FW42 may not have been the most competitive car on the grid, Williams remained committed to pushing the boundaries and racing to new horizons.