A shorter, less sculpted design than previously, with a saw-tooth type profile (2), coupled with a pointed extension to the lower edge of the sidepod (1), very similar to the one used by Renault since Monaco. The underbody was also altered, split into two parts with the foremost including the...
A change to the inner, knife-edge profile at the bottom of the endplates. Rather than running parallel to the ground it bends downwards, forming a wider venturi channel which provides additional downforce and reduces turbulence around the front wheels. Similar solutions will be important in 2005,...
A new, very narrow design, with a slight s-shape to the leading edges of the upper and lower wing elements, and a saw-tooth notch cut into the tall, narrow endplates.
A new design featuring a double-S profile very similar to the one used since the start of the season with the walrus nose, but with the side extremities clearly higher than before. This configuration, which provided less downforce than the central deep spoon profile seen in Hungary, had been...
The FW26B's revised rear bodywork featured newer, much bigger, winglets on top of the sidepods and eliminated the shark-like vents present on the older version. The solution was very effective on the long straights at Spa and was used for the remainder of the season.
Williams ditched their famous walrus nose in a favour of a higher, far more traditional design, complete with new front wing. The old nose was particularly sensitive to side winds and the new one reduced the car's pitch sensitivity and improved its dynamics under braking and on the entry to corners.
An interesting feature of this revised FW26 was two curved winglets placed on the foremost point of the chassis. These two elements, which recall similar devices used by Tyrrell in 1998, had the function of increasing downforce at the front end, improving its handling precision.
A similar concept to Ferrari's F2004, with the front of the sidepod narrowing towards the bottom, with inclined chimneys on top. Unlike the Ferrari, the side shark vents were not removable. Towards the rear, an increased bodywork section featured a mid wing. At the very back the bodywork narrows,...
Williams adopted a medium-downforce configuration adding the full-width additional wing on top of the rear axle, as seen in previous races. According to their engineers, impact on straight-line speed was minimal. The team also increased chimney size due to the humidity and high temperatures at...
Williams, like Toyota, were excluded because their front brake ducts were too wide. Under the rules no part of the duct could be more than 120mm away from a line parallel to the inner side of the wheel - Williams exceeded it by around 30mm, which would definitely have improved their braking...
This design still featured the intermediate vertical fences introduced in Bahrain, but with their height reduced by 50 percent. This satisfied both the FIA's requirements and those of the high-speed Barcelona circuit.
The FW26 sported an additional wing profile placed on the top of the rear axle. Used in practice but then discarded for the race, the idea was to raise rear downforce in order to correct an aerodynamic imbalance in the car that made it overly pitch sensitive at the front.
A subtle change to the front aerodynamics with the introduction of a stepped plane, with a vertical profile, to the bottom of the barge boards inside the front suspension. This created a better seal between the bottom of the car and the ground, diverting airflow underneath the car more efficiently.
A similar feature to that already seen on the BAR 006, the FW26 sported two inner vertical fences within its rear wing. The solution provided a better management of airflow. By dividing the wing into three sections, it increased the airflow pressure in each, raising overall downforce.
The FW 26 sported multiple fins, with the main one in front of the rear wheels doubled up. Another triangular fin was placed over the under tray of the car, in front of the rear wheels. The inclination of the fins should direct airflow around the rear of the car more efficiently, reducing the...
The front-wing endplates of the FW26 sported an interesting change to the bottom edge, with a squared channel instead of the rounded one seen previously. This is thought to be a development of the venturi channel introduced since the end of last season, designed primarily to reduce the pitch...
