Actually, it is a return to an old engine supplier – it was Renault who
supplied the team during the most successful period in their 30-year
history, a period during which they won four drivers’ and five constructors’
titles together in the 1990s, with big names such as Nigel Mansell, Alain
Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve in the cockpit.
Those days seem increasingly distant; the advent of the manufacturer era
making it harder and harder for independent teams such as Williams to
compete.
But it is not impossible. Brawn GP proved in 2009 that with a clever idea – in
their case the controversial double diffuser – the smaller independents
can still take the fight to the big boys.
The trouble is that with the rules ever more prescriptive, and with the 2012
regulations more of a natural evolution from 2011 than a sea change, finding
those areas to exploit will be difficult.
Williams will just be happy to be competing for points on a consistent basis
again.
“One could say that looking at the Williams F1 Team today we are off to
a truly fresh start,” Sir Frank said as the FW34 took to the track for
the first time. “We have a new car, new driver line up, new engine and
new senior personnel.
“The team has had a good winter at the factory and we feel ready and strong
for the fight.”
As lunchtime approached, Williams’ Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado was
running 10th fastest out of 11.
Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen, back in F1 after two years in the WRC wilderness,
was top of the timesheets having completed 50-odd laps but Red Bull’s Mark
Webber had hardly done any running at all, while McLaren’s Jenson Button was
gradually moving up the field in the MP4-27 having likewise spent most of
the morning in the garage.
The truth is you can’ tell much from winter testing at the best of times,
with different teams running different set-ups and fuel loads, and the first
day almost nothing at all.
Merecedes and HRT are yet to launch their 2012 challengers and are running
modified versions of their 2011 cars in Jerez, while Marussia haven’t turned
up at all.
Winter testing is like a phoney war in which the combatants try to get through
their programmes without giving too much away, bringing updates to their
cars which they hope no one will see, while at the same time watching their
rivals like hawks for any signs of funny business.
At the moment all the talk is about the ugly ‘stepped-nose’ design featured
on every car bar McLaren’s, but soon enough attention will turn
rearwards to the exhaust outlets where teams are trying to harness the hot
air to improve downforce.
The FIA’s technical director Charlie Whiting is out here keeping a close
eye on things.
The first grand prix of the year, in Australia on March 18, may not be for
another six weeks or so but there are only 12 days of testing between now
and then. The race is most definitely on. As are the guessing games.