FW43

Lore & Background

One of these reserve drivers, Jack Aitken, made his Grand Prix debut in the FW43 at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, replacing George Russell who was called up by Mercedes for the same event after Mercedes' regular driver, Lewis Hamilton, tested positive for coronavirus and was forced to miss the event as a result. Russell returned to Williams for the season finale in Abu Dhabi after Hamilton was cleared to race for Mercedes in that event with Aitken returning to reserve driver. The car was designed by Doug McKiernan and Dave Wheater; David Worner and Jonathan Carter were not involved in the FW43's design. The car was planned to make its competitive debut at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, but this was delayed when several races were postponed or cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FW43 made its debut at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix. The pandemic also prompted the delay of technical regulations that had been planned for introduction in 2021. Under an agreement reached between teams and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, 2020-specification cars—including the FW43—saw their lifespan extended to compete in 2021. Williams introduced the FW43B for use in 2021.

In Their Own Story

The morning mist clung to the Barcelona circuit as Valtteri Bottas stepped out of the garage, his eyes fixed on the gleaming silver and blue lines of the FW43. The car sat low to the ground, its carbon fibre bodywork absorbing the soft light. As he climbed into the cockpit, the familiar scent of rubber and fuel filled his senses. With a deep breath, he gripped the steering wheel, ready to push the machine beyond its limits on a track where history had been made just days before.

Reader's Guide

The car was designed by David Worner and Jonathan Carter, both of whom are in their first year in the team having previously worked with Red Bull and Renault respectively. Williams have described the FW43 as being an evolution of its predecessor, believing the FW42 was a good basis on which to design the FW43. Several major changes were made regarding the side pods. Firstly the car introduced a steep slope from the top of the side pod to the floor to encourage the air to reach the floor of the car. This has drawn parallels with the side pod designs seen on the Red Bull RB8 and Sauber C31 seen in 2012. Williams have also reduced the size of the air inlets on the front of the side pods and have flattened the outer surface of the side pod. The wing mirror and wing mirror supports have also seen aerodynamic refinement.

Did You Know?

• The FW43 was driven by Nicholas Latifi and George Russell, not Valtteri Bottas or Felipe Massa.
• Jack Aitken made his Grand Prix debut in the FW43 at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, replacing George Russell.
• Williams failed to score a single point with the FW43 in 2020, the first time since 1977 the team finished pointless in an F1 season—though they also went scoreless in 2011 with a different car.
• The FW43B, introduced for 2021, scored Williams' first podium since the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.