Williams FW45: a technical effort brings 6 vital points to the team!

The best performance in Montreal, as mentioned in the analysis of the Canadian GP, was the one that brought Alex Albon to seventh place. The laptimes that he managed to set aboard his Williams FW45 were the result, in addition to his strenuous defense against a group of faster cars, of an aerodynamic upgrades package introduced by the engineers of the Grove team.

The new upgrade package was available only to Albon

Although this aero package had been approved for some time in the wind tunnel and at the CFD, its introduction only took place in the Canadian Grand Prix due to some manufacturing-related issues of the new components.

Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

As revealed by Albon himself after the chequered flag, in order to have the new parts available, a really important effort was needed by the manufacturing department of his team, with incredibly long shifts (weekends included). Also for this reason it was possible to produce and fit the new components only on one car instead of two: in all probability, Logan Sargeant will also have the new spec FW45 in the Austrian GP, in two weeks' time...

The evolution of the sidepods is similar to Aston Martin

The most developed macro-area is that of the sidepods, which unlike what Williams did last year in the middle of the season doesn't deny the aerodynamic philosophy of the initial project, but constitutes an evolution as well as Aston Martin just did on their AMR23.

Alex Albon on Williams FW45 with upgrades (Photo: Jake Grant / Motorsport Images)

Logan Sargeant on Williams FW45 without upgrades (Photo: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images)

Looking at the comparison between the two pictures above, it can be seen that on the new sidepods there is a more pronounced downward trend than previously. This novelty, curiously introduced at the same time by Aston Martin, features a less stepped profile in the portion where the sidepods join the floor edges (a detail that is not very visible in the two pictures, but which, if well designed, makes a big difference in the floor efficiency). A big question mark remains as to what adjustments there have been on the underfloor, to work in symbiosis with the highlighted updates.

Engine cover with a short fin and a new cooling outlet

From the same photos above, another novelty can also be observed, namely the profile of the fin that overlooks the engine cover: not a huge upgrade, but one that frees up space at the end of the engine cover for a cooling outlet once again similar to the evolved Aston Martin AMR23 we saw in Canada.

In this case the coincidence is less remarkable than the sidepods shape, because the cooling requirements of the FW45 and the AMR23 are dictated by the same Mercedes Power Unit. When supplying the Power Unit, together with it Mercedes also specifies some data relative to the sizing of the cooling system: for this reason it's plausible that both Aston Martin and Williams independently came to the same technical solution.

A modified cooling layout completes the aero upgrade package

At the exit of the engine cover, the outlet was then reprofiled, now narrower and higher than previously.

Alex Albon on Williams FW45 with upgrades (Photo: Patrick Vinet / Motorsport Images)

Logan Sargeant on Williams FW45 without upgrades (Photo: Patrick Vinet / Motorsport Images)

The redistribution of the hot airflow that invest the beam wing and rear wing, if well designed, is a valid ally in the fight against aerodynamic drag (a field in which Williams already excels, even though their car body efficiency isn't on the same level).

The other new details, to complete the overview proposed, concern the fairing of the Halo, the mirror mounting structures, the fairing of the rear suspensions and the trailing edges of the rear wing endplates.

The long straights of the Spielberg track in Austria will be another chance for the English team to do well and - if possible - collect other points in the Constructors' World Championship.