2007 SEASON REVIEW
Summary
In a season dominated by some of the closest on-track competition
seen in recent years, the AT&T Williams team concluded
the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship with a rewarding
fourth place in the Constructors’ standings. The season
saw the team dramatically improve its performance in every
area, from the scoreboard to the drawing office, since 2006.
The performance incremental is most keenly demonstrated by
the tripling of its World Championship points, from 11 in
2006 to 33 this year, but also by a 60% uplift in reliability
as well as by a demonstrable improvement in race pace by the
end of the season.
Performance
AT&T Williams enjoyed a considerable upturn in on-track
performance this year, highlighted by a leap from eighth to
fourth in the Constructors’ table, having tripled its
overall points by season end. Running approximately 1.5 seconds
behind the leaders in terms of fastest lap times in Melbourne,
the FW29 closed the season just 0.8 seconds behind the quickest
cars in Brazil, the result of a considered development programme
delivering upgrades to the car throughout the year.
In only his second season in Formula One, Nico Rosberg improved
his average qualifying position by five grid places from 14th
in 2006 to 9th in 2007. From only three entries into the final
round of qualifying last season, Nico made it into the top
ten knockout round no less than 11 times this year. Although
a subsequent engine penalty dropped him ten places on the
grid, Nico’s qualifying in Fuji was the best of his
year, his fuel corrected time just three tenths slower than
pole position time. In terms of race results, Nico suffered
three of the team’s mechanical failures but had just
one accident, in the rain at the Nürburgring. Out of
the 13 races he finished, Nico gained 24 positions and averaged
8th place, a step up from 10th in his rookie season. A measured
drive to a career best fourth place at the final race in Brazil
concluded a successful season for Nico. All of this saw Nico
improve from 17th to 9th in the Drivers’ standings.
In his first year back in a race seat, Alex Wurz showed his
maturity and experience in a number of difficult races. Despite
an average qualifying position of 14th, Alex managed to translate
no top ten starts into five top ten finishes, make up 60 positions
in race conditions and secure the team’s only podium
of the season in Montréal. Seven finishes outside of
the top ten and just four DNFs gave Alex a 10th place finishing
average and 11th place in the Drivers’ table in his
last season of active racing.
Kazuki Nakajima made his Formula One debut as a test driver
for the team this year while also contesting the GP2 series.
In the appearances he made in free practice sessions, Kazuki
clearly demonstrated his capabilities in the cockpit, providing
intelligent feedback to assist with qualifying and race set-up
options. His positive disposition and raw pace was rewarded
with a race seat for the final round of the Championship following
Alex’s retirement as an F1 race driver. The GP2 Rookie
of the Year re-paid the team’s faith with a measured
drive in which he set the fifth fastest lap, overtook several
more experienced rivals and came home in 10th place. Demonstrating
considerable composure following an incident during his pitstop
only highlighted his potential for a promising future in the
sport.
Reliability
Ranked eighth in the 2006 Championship, a key concern for
2007 was an improvement in reliability. An unprecedented 20
DNFs from the previous season (11 car, nine driver) was dramatically
reduced to just eight this year, only four of which were the
result of mechanical failures, and put the team in fourth
place in the reliability standings. The recovery of reliability
has been the result of improved fault identification and management
processes at Grove implemented over the winter months. A restructured
Design Office and the recruitment of a number of high profile
personnel have all assisted in the significant improvements
of car reliability as well as driveability, which have contributed
to the elusive variable of driver confidence. The earlier
roll-out of the FW29 certainly helped, as did a steady car
development programme over the ensuing months.
Strategy
Calls from the pit wall, both scheduled and ad hoc, have
been a hallmark of improved performances this season. Alex
Wurz’s blistering drive to a podium in Montreal from
19th on the grid was aided by a strong, pre-determined race
strategy which saw the team elect a one stop strategy on the
grounds that nine times out of ten the Canadian Grand Prix
throws up a safety car period. Combined with Alex being the
first to pit for tyres, the team’s strategy proved to
be the most intelligent option and delivered the first podium
for two seasons.
Alex’s four stop strategy at an intermittently drenched
Nürburgring yielded fourth place from 12th after a long
middle stint. Similarly, Nico’s long second stint in
Brazil propelled him up the field from 10th on the grid after
the team fuelled him 11 to 12 laps longer than his immediate
competition, enabling him to leave them behind and target
the BMWs. With a strong car beneath him, Nico was able to
catch and pass the BMWs of both Kubica and Heidfeld towards
the end of the race which promoted him to fourth place and
which consolidated fourth place for the team in the Constructors’
title.
Technical Partners
The early deployment of the 2007 transmission with the Toyota
engine on the dyno in Cologne in June last year, coupled with
the related electronics, paid dividends this year and made
a significant contribution to both performance and reliability.
From the early stages, the relationship with Toyota has been
one based on open channels of communication. A mutually supportive
operations network between Grove and Cologne is well established,
and will assist in the team’s progression going into
2008.
The partnership with Bridgestone is now entering its third
year. Although a tyre “war” no longer exists,
how teams use their tyres is a fundamental performance driver.
Joining forces with the Japanese tyre supplier in 2006, a
year ahead of the switch to a sole tyre supplier and indeed
ahead of the majority of teams, afforded AT&T Williams
a level of advantage this season.
The team welcomed another successful new partnership this
year, with Rays Wheels. The Japanese wheel manufacturer enjoyed
a positive opening season, providing the team with 100% reliability
and a strong performance point to take into the long term
with the team.
Target For 2008
A leading ambition for 2008 will be to aim for 100% reliability
to maximise points-scoring opportunities. With the FW29-B
interim car already on the test track and an early launch
of the FW30 planned, steps to achieve the objective are already
in place.
In addition to the normal performance steps required to move
forward, during the winter the team will further concentrate
on improving qualifying performance while not losing race
strength.
In terms of overall performance, narrowing the margin to
the front runners, having concluded the season an average
of eight tenths of a second behind the leading team, will
be vital to the principal goal of elevating the team up the
Constructors’ ladder.
Driver Statistics
Nico Rosberg - Alex Wurz
Av. Qualifying Position 9th - Av. Qualifying Position 14th
Knocked out Q1 1 - Knocked out Q1 7
Knocked out Q2 5 - Knocked out Q2 9
Knocked out Q3 11 - Knocked out Q3 0
Av. Race Position 8th - Av. Race Position 10th
Top 10 Finishes 9 - Top 10 Finishes 5
Finishes outside top 10 2 - Finishes outside top 10 7
Aggregate no. positions gained from Q - R 24 - Aggregate no.
positions gained from Q - R 60
Mechanical DNFs 3 - Mechanical DNFs 1
Accident DNFs 1 - Accident DNFs 3
Championship position 9th - Championship position 11th
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