Formula 1: A “more aggressive” Williams is a good thing

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 24: Felipe Massa of Brazil driving the (19) Williams Martini Racing Williams FW40 Mercedes on track during practice for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 24: Felipe Massa of Brazil driving the (19) Williams Martini Racing Williams FW40 Mercedes on track during practice for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

After a poor 2017 Formula season, Williams will improve with a more aggressive looking 2018 car, predicts former Williams driver Felipe Massa.

Former Williams driver Felipe Massa predicts improvement for the team in the 2018 Formula 1 season with a more “aggressive-looking” car.

Former Williams driver Felipe Massa told Motorsport.com that the Williams challenger for the 2018 Formula 1 season is more aggressive looking than its 2017 predecessor, the FW40.

After viewing a wind tunnel model, Massa, now retired, said:

"“The car looks a lot more aggressive. It looks a lot more different so I believe maybe they can improve.”"

Improvement is the keyword, as in 20 races last year, the FW40 was unimpressive, achieving one podium (by Lance Stroll in Azerbaijan) and finishing the season with only 83 points.

An aggressive design may turn the tide in Williams’ best-of-the-rest battle with Force India. The past two seasons, the Grove-based team have finished fifth behind the Silverstone-based team in the constructors’ championship. When the current regulations were introduced in 2014, Williams finished third in the Constructors’ championship twice in 2014 and 2015 before their drop in form.

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With the 2018 rules introducing the Halo device, banning T-wings and shark fin body work and outlawing trick suspension, the 2018 challenger may well regain form. The dismissal of T-wings and shark fin mean a more streamlined and hopefully more stable rear end. The FW40 was notoriously loose and twitchy on high-speed corners last year.

Williams have an uncanny ability to take advantage of slight rule changes and the 2018 car will be Chief Technical Director Paddy Lowe’s first real Williams design after leaving Mercedes. Therefore, there’s a possibility that some of Lowe’s Mercedes designs may show up on the Williams. Williams currently use Mercedes power units.

Lowe is very positive about incremental improvement made to the 2018 challenger, despite delays,according to Motorsport.com .

"“So people are going to have to really work very hard in the next two to three months. But there is some good work going on and we hope to make a big improvement compared to this year’s car.”"

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The 2018 car will be piloted by 19-year-old Lance Stroll likely 22-year-old Sergey Sirotkin, whose contract details have been finalized. In addition, Robert Kubica is set to take on a support role for the team.