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Williams FW27 - front wing

For Japan, Williams have introduced their own version of the secondary wing profiles first seen on the Renault and also since adopted by Jordan, BAR and Minardi. The additional profiles are not part of the endplate, but are linked to them and to the foremost part of the nosecone, in a similar way to...

Williams FW 27 - front wing

The front wing has been one of the more frequently modified elements on the FW27 this season. For Spa (and Monza), a sort of hybrid solution incorporating endplates completely straight in their profile and deprived of the usual side winglet (right arrow). This is because both tracks sport long...

Williams FW27 - rear wing

Williams' low-downforce, low-drag Monza aero package included this rear-wing design. Unlike the McLaren, the upper profile is not completely flat. Instead its extremities are bent forwards, accelerating airflow close to the endplates. The shape provides some extra downforce without adding...

Williams FW27 - closed rear-brake drums

As first spotted on the grid in Istanbul, the brakes feature a sort of outer shell that completely covers the upright and the disc. The shell creates a semi-sealed area, which should cause air entering from the brake duct to circulate at a higher speed, hence improving cooling of the disc. The shell...

Williams FW27 - hidden engine venting

Things are not always what they seem in Formula One racing. In addition to Williams' Renault-style cooling gills, their bodywork in Turkey also has two large slits beside the engine heads, dissipating heat through a vent in front of the rear wheels. These are well hidden by the big upward-curving...

Williams FW27 - front wing

Changes to the front end for Turkey, notably the wing. A double flap (left twin arrow) replaces the previous single one. This provides more downforce, but with only a minimal drag increase, as the flap angle remains low. The endplates are also revised. They are now inclined outwards at the base...

Williams FW27 - triple mid wing

As Budapest is a very twisty circuit, Williams adapted their aerodynamics accordingly. For the first time the FW27 sported a series of three mid wings to create additional downforce right at the centre of the car. This doesn't cause any change to the overall aerodynamic balance, due to the central...

Williams FW27 - new sidepods

The revised 'B' spec FW27 first seen in France has extensively modified sidepods, especially towards the rear. Gone are the previous, large exhaust chimneys. Vented horizontal gills take their place (1), similar to those used by Renault, allowing a smaller exhaust opening in the bodywork, reducing...

Williams FW27 grows ears

Renault did it some races ago and at Silverstone Williams have introduced two small 'ears' towards the front of the chassis. These slightly increase downforce on the front axle - and better manage the airflow to the rear of the car. The small change is a part of the substantial update package that...

Williams FW27 - front wing

A revised flap for the US (right arrow), without the pointed extension (left arrow) seen in the recent races. Indy set-ups usually favour the track's high-speed section and this change indeed lessens drag and downforce. The lower section of the endplates are also newly rounded towards the rear to...

Williams FW27 - winglets & chimneys

The FW27's aerodynamics never stop evolving. For the US the rear of the sidepods have received particular attention, with interesting double winglets, the lower smaller winglet connected to the sidepod by a short horizontal link (left red arrow). This change is coupled with revised exhaust chimneys...

Williams FW27 - winglets

Also seen in Monaco, Williams' Nurburgring winglets are based on a series of double profiles. The fronter-most winglets (in blue, next to the cooling chimney) have a lower profile that also acts as the structure's support mounting. The rearmost winglets (white) also sport a double profile at their ...

Williams FW27 - barge board development

In Barcelona Williams adopted a revised version of their big shields, providing them with a different knife-edged profile at the bottom. They now sport a sharper 'tooth' shape, instead of the continuous profile seen previously. This change is not dissimilar to designs used by Ferrari and Renault,...

Williams FW27 - side wind vents

Barcelona's strong sidewinds upset a car's aerodynamic efficiency, hence teams seek to reduce sensitivity to them by minimising the side bodywork's cross-sectional area. Many, such as Williams, include a deep cut in the rear of the engine cover to act as a venting channel, through which side winds...

Williams FW27 - front wing modifications

The evolution of the FW27's front wing continues in Bahrain with the small winglets inside the endplates reduced in section (previously they curved upwards on their inside edge). This small change is hugely important to the front-end balance of the car and hence to improved tyre wear and cornering....

Williams FW27 - new barge boards

An aero development for Sepang in the form of new barge boards (2), coupled with the horizontal, knife-blade profiled turning vanes (1) already seen in Melbourne. The change improves airflow management in this area, increasing cooling capability – paramount at this race. It should also increase the...

Williams FW27 - new turning vanes

Gone are the horizontal fins attached to the central part of the car's stepped bottom. Instead they have morphed into pointed extensions to the sidepods, almost resembling a knife blade. These vanes split the airflow in two, with the lower part directed to the bottom of the car, and the upper part...

Williams FW27 - additional bi-plane wing

Addition of a very small wing, 10 cm wide, right over rear light support. Features a double profile with very high wing inclination, so as to assure a small but effective amount of downforce. Could be used as soon as Saturday qualifying in Melbourne, but in general only likely to be adopted on slow...

Williams FW27 - sidepods

Very low sidepods that shrink under the car at their bottom edge and taper dramatically towards the rear. Even larger chimneys (1) than in 2004 ensure efficient cooling, despite the tight engine packaging. Two small double midwings (2), similar to those used by Renault last year, are mounted on top...

Williams FW27 - front wing

A slim nosecone design, much higher than on last year's car. The wing features a deep spoon profile at its centre, with higher side sections to comply with 2005 regulations and simplified endplates.

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