Williams FW26 launch (5th Jan), be Nosey!

[Wrex]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
World's ugliest nose! And certainly the most obvious thing on the new car! Expect Newey to copy that ASAP

Dont you start with that, or you'll be out on your *** as well

Some pics from Planet-F1.com

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[Adam43]

Originally posted by Wethat
To me the FW25 was atleast as beautifull as 1 of the BMW roadcars but that changed with this model Speed is the only factor in F1 though.

I agree, the 25 is as beutiful as a Astra, sorry 3 series.

[MacMan]

I dubb this car Barbra Streisand

[bosch!]

Looks like 2004 will be the year of the Nose Job!

[Wrex]

another

[Wrex]

Good angle


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[sonic]

I love it! I feel like i've just the future - and its got williams plastered all over it.

[darcym]

don't like the look of that new nose,

it wil be interesting to see how it holds up in testing, and how tweakable it is for setup.

Sort of new like the 97 tyrel though that had a strange front wing. (that didn't work)

I'd like to see more of the bodywork and rear of the car, not many pictures focusing on that. Keeping in mind that a lot of teams hold back "real" upgrades for a launch, I wonder what Williams have in the back room.

[Wrex]

Looks like if it goes fast enough the car will split in two

[Wrex]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
It should be running tomorrow, if not today, I guess.

"The team’s 2004 car will complete its first laps of the Valencia track later this afternoon."

[Smokey 6 litre]

they weren't joking when they said it was their most radical car in years were they!

BUT

I like it, for too long F1 cars have looked similar. I want F1 to go back to the good old days (before i was born) where all the cars were different and being developed at a radical pace.

[Spudgun]

Hmmm, I don't know what to make of that nose. I'll have to think about that one.

Just looking at the side shot Wrex has posted all I can think of is Cyril Sneer from the Raccoons cartoon.

[av8rirl]

The actual nosecone with crash/crumple zone looks very short. It may be to the letter of the rules but I wonder if it'll be deemed legal??

[Smokey 6 litre]

I'm not a F1 technical boff, so can someone please explain what the twin keel thing is about, and what are its benefits.

[Adam43]

The twin keel concept is for the mounting points of the lower front suspension. The previous normal design was a single 'keel' that came down below the front cockpit that the lower suspension was mounted to. Both right and left sides would be mounted on the same small piece of body that stuck out below the cockpit/nose. Twin keel is where the left and right suspension mounts are separate and come down from the side of teh cockpit/nose section. On the above Williams these blue and can be seen coming outwards from the nose just beind the front wing (see Wrex's good angle).

[corkholio]

Ugh, that nose is butt ugly. But that can only mean one thing - it's going to be damn effective.

[darcym]

the side pods are F2003-ga style, I can't see if it has any bardge boards

[jj2728]

good on 'em....as they say...'ahead by a nose'....

[Adam43]

Originally posted by darcym
the side pods are F2003-ga style, I can't see if it has any bardge boards

The FW25 didn't have barge boards as such (in the traditional sense), just complex turning viens. If I remember rightly it had them at launch, but soon abandoned them.

[Smokey 6 litre]

Thanks Adam, i really like this car, sure its ugly, but to agree with Corkholios point that its gotta be effective and thats whats gonna give Montoya his first WDC!

[mansellmania]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
World's ugliest nose! And certainly the most obvious thing on the new car! Expect Newey to copy that ASAP

Twin keel! Obviously they like this solution too!

yea yea, wanna bet ?

im suprised they went for a twin keel and am very eager to see how it performs.

I like the new look very much.
Well done williams!
Lets hope it is a succesfull car.

[Mark Webber]

Its freash I'll say that but good looking is a bit of a streach . It would want to work

[Adam43]

From Williams-f1.com http://www.bmw.williamsf1.com/01-2EF...01/0501_01.4ml

The FW26 features a distinctively short nose cone, with the the front wing main plane and associated assemblies mounted on extended 'tusks'. The startling interpretation of the front profile has been conceived in tandem with a twin keel monocoque design, aiding air flow both under and over the front geometries of the car, and improving global aerodynamics right through to the rear wing of the FW26. The front profiles of the car are augmented by a narrower sidepod footprint, enabled by revised cooling packaging, all assisting aerodynamic performance.

Well there are hints at the overall idea here.

[Phoenix1]

Best part of the design for me is the big number at the front. Hopefully that will make it easier to spot who is who even when drivers have close matching helmet designs!

[nameless]

that has to be the most hideous car ive seen in ages, the nose looks far too wide and reminds me a bit of cars of the 70s and that is definately a good thing. but what is good is that it is different and so far the two cars for next year we have seen are both very different so i cant wait to see what all the other teams have come up with, it could be interesting