AT&T Williams F1 Team - Williams FW31

The Williams F1 team launched its 2010 car, the FW31, on February 1st with a completely new driver line-up and a new engine and gearbox to boot. Or, is that a new engine and gearbox in the boot? Out were Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, and in were Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenburg (promoted from the 2009 test driver role). The team has a new test driver as well in Finn Valtteri Bottas.

The car itself is somewhat remarkable in 2010 terms in as much that it has no shark fin engine cover. Other than that there isn't much to choose between it and the other midfield contenders on the grid. The team has by necessity replaced its rather weak Toyota engine with a Cosworth V8 - the only 2009 team to do so but one of five teams who have signed up to a fixed price deal with the manufacturer.

Many in the F1 paddock are sceptical that the Cosworth engine will be either reliable or powerful enough to play with the big boys. However testing so far has been positive with Williams running one example long past its expected useful life and Barrichello in particular running well up in the midfield during pre-season testing. It may still be too early to be certain, but the early signs are definitely positive. For a team that hasn't been able to recapture past glories of the 1990's this could be a shrewd move financially.

In Rubens Barrichello the team has a wealth of experience - seventeen years at the top of the profession with 287 starts, 11 wins and 601 points. The majority of this career has been spent at Ferrari and BAR Honda/Honda/Brawn and from that he has two seconds and two thirds in the drivers championship as well as 67 podiums including 11 wins. This must be the Brazilian's last stop before retirement and barring a minor miracle this also means that he won't be getting a run at the top spot this year.

Nico Hulkenburg ran as the Williams test driver in 2008 and 2009, getting his promotion after a fairly dominant performance in hist first full season in the F1 supporting GP2 series. Hulkenberg's manager Willi Weber is already talking about a Ferrari contract in three years time but this is getting ahead of the game. Hulkenberg has the chance to learn from, and measure himself against, one of the longest established F1 drivers ever - he should make the most of it. If he proves faster than the veteran, his career will take off.

The Williams team has no misconceptions about their place in the F1 pecking order - without exclusive (or prime) engine manufacturer backing (or a deep-pockets sponsor/owner) they are at best fighting for the top midfield places behind McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault and Mercedes. Last year they finished 7th, 1.5 points behind 6th placed Sauber. Their target this year should be to aim for fifth place, hoping to do no worse than 6th - and maybe sneak a podium here or there.

author: Phil Haigh