Skip to main content

Williams gears up for F1 season

updated 3:01 PM EST, Tue February 19, 2013
Pastor Maldonado took the new Williams for a spin at Barcelona on February 19 following the launch at Circuit de Catalunya. Pastor Maldonado took the new Williams for a spin at Barcelona on February 19 following the launch at Circuit de Catalunya.
HIDE CAPTION
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
F1 teams unveil 2013 cars
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
>
>>
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Williams unveiled new FW35 at Barcelona Tuesday
  • Pastor Maldonado took the new car for a spin around Circuit de Catalunya
  • Williams confident new car will help team compete at the front end of the grid
  • Mercedes star Nico Rosberg the fastest man on the track on first day of testing

(CNN) -- Williams unveiled its new car for the 2013 season on the first day of testing at Barcelona Tuesday with renewed ambition following a complete transformation of last season's vehicle.

The Renault-powered FW35 "is an evolution of the FW34 of 2012, it's better and more refined, with more than 80 percent new parts," Williams' technical director Mike Coughlan told reporters.

Venezuela's Pastor Maldonado gave the team its first win in seven-and-a-half years when he triumphed at last season's Spanish Grand Prix.

Maldonado, who is entering his third season with Williams, will be joined in the paddock by 23-year-old Finn Valtteri Bottas, who replaced Bruno Senna.

Read: Raikkonen on a roll at Jerez

Sebastian Vettel celebrates with his team and admirers after a pulsating race at Interlagos in Brazil. But where does the Red Bull driver rank in the pantheon of F1's virtuosos? Sebastian Vettel celebrates with his team and admirers after a pulsating race at Interlagos in Brazil. But where does the Red Bull driver rank in the pantheon of F1's virtuosos?
Case for greatness
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
>
>>
How good is Sebastian Vettel? How good is Sebastian Vettel?
Click here to return to the story. Click here to return to the story.
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
>
>>
Senna vs. Fangio: Who is the greatest? Senna vs. Fangio: Who is the greatest?
Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were long-time rivals before they became teammates at McLaren. Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were long-time rivals before they became teammates at McLaren.
Winning pair
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
>
>>
United in rivalry: Prost and Senna United in rivalry: Prost and Senna

Team owner Frank Williams is confident that his team will be ready to compete at the front of the grid when the season starts in Australia on March 17.

Williams told reporters: "A talented group of people with lots of imagination worked hard to produce the FW35.

"We believe it represents a step forward to last year's car which was already very competitive."

Read: 'Identikit' 2013 season

Meanwhile, Mercedes' Nico Rosberg clocked the fastest time of the day at 1 minute 22.616 seconds.

The German edged out Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finishing third fastest.

Alonso, who is chasing a third world title, recorded a fastest time of 1 minute 22.952 seconds.

Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel finished three tenths of a second slower than Rosberg after leading the time charts following the morning session.

Read: Vettel revs up for glory

Rosberg told the Mercedes website: "We had a mixed day today with some laps lost this morning. However we were able to work through a good program this afternoon and, of course, it's always nice to be quickest at the end of the day.

"In general, I feel happy and comfortable in the car and it feels better than the last time we were here at this track. There is still some work to be done on tire degradation and our program this afternoon was helpful in understanding that."

ADVERTISEMENT
Part of complete coverage on
Track the new Formula One season as it progresses, circuit by circuit, race by race.
updated 9:24 AM EDT, Thu March 14, 2013
Can the new F1 season live up to last year's standards? Find out the need-to-know stories for 2013.
updated 7:48 AM EDT, Thu March 14, 2013
CNN looks ahead to the Australian Grand Prix, the first F1 race of the 2013 season.
updated 1:24 PM EST, Thu February 28, 2013
Adrian Sutil will be Force India's second driver for the 2013 Formula One season, pledging to make the most of his "second chance".
updated 8:52 PM EST, Fri March 1, 2013
Christmas Abbott, 5'3 and 115 pounds, is the first woman to join a NASCAR pit crew team.
updated 7:35 PM EST, Mon February 11, 2013
The first race in Melbourne is just around the corner and Formula 1 teams are gearing up for a season which promises to be as technical as it is tactical.
updated 7:19 AM EST, Fri March 1, 2013
When the new Formula 1 season gets underway in March, for the first time there will be a woman running a team's entire operations from track to boardroom.
updated 7:22 AM EST, Mon January 21, 2013
The Dakar Rally is one of the world's most dangerous motorsport races, and this year's edition has already been marred by tragic deaths.
updated 2:20 PM EST, Thu January 31, 2013
The famous circuit of Nurburgring is confirmed Thursday as the venue for the 2013 German Grand Prix after reaching a deal with F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.
updated 10:36 AM EST, Tue November 27, 2012
It did not take very long for the inevitable question to be asked -- just how good a driver is Sebastian Vettel?
updated 9:49 AM EST, Thu January 24, 2013
Changes to tires will make Formula 1 racing faster with more overtaking in 2013, according to the sport's official tire supplier Pirelli.
updated 4:35 AM EST, Mon November 26, 2012
Fangio
Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, and contemporary pacesetters Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso were all contenders.
updated 8:32 AM EST, Fri November 23, 2012
Who is the greatest F1 driver of all time? Past and present drivers give their verdict on the contenders to CNN.
CNN has asked Formula One stars past and present, "Who is the best driver of all time?" Now we want to hear from you.
updated 4:48 AM EST, Tue November 20, 2012
A triumphant Lewis Hamilton called Sunday's United States Grand Prix the best race of 2012 but for many it was more important than that -- it was Formula One being reborn in the USA.
CNN's Ben Wyatt says Sebastian Vettel or Fernando Alonso will seal their place in F1 history in Brazil this weekend.
updated 2:41 PM EST, Sun November 25, 2012
The F1 title race will be fought over 20 races this season. Keep track of the latest standings in the drivers' and manufacturers' championships.
updated 10:20 AM EST, Fri November 16, 2012
The Formula One roadshow rolls into Austin, Texas this weekend for the first race of ten over the coming decade
Mario Andretti says the key to rekindling F1 in the U.S. is a buzzword that has been flying around Washington faster than a Ferrari -- stability.
ADVERTISEMENT