Led by James Vowles, Williams have launched their new car — the FW47 — for the 2025 F1 season well ahead of pre-season testing. It was something they failed to do in 2024 due to the radical approach it took with its processes and manufacturing techniques which meant the car was late on production time.
But that’s not to say that is the only upside of such an early launch – even ahead of F1’s own 75th anniversary launch event in London next Tuesday. As team principal James Vowles explained, “every area” of the car has taken a massive step upwards and is a “world of difference” compared to the struggles of the previous seasons.
The two key differences compared to 2024
Despite a huge focus on 2026 and the all-new regulations that will come into effect – which will have as headline changes a near 50/50 split between the ICE power and MGU-K battery pack, and changes to the main aerodynamic surfaces and movable aero to replace what we know as DRS nowadays – the team has still found significant gains on their last car for this regulation set that started in 2022.
For a start, Williams will begin the 2025 F1 season with the car already at the minimum weight allowed by the regulations. It has been increased by two kilograms this year (now at 800kg) to allow for more wiggle room for the drivers’ body weight. They have also proved, with a live broadcast of its first ever run, that the processes are already reliable enough to put the car on track without any major setbacks, something that couldn’t be said even as recently as last year.
“Very much so,” James Vowles said when asked if there would be significant progress in 2025 with the F1 FW47 car despite the major focus being on 2026. “So first of all, weight, the car will be on the weight limit. Second of all, on time.
“As I said, we demonstrated to the world that we can build a car to the standard and make it leave the garage within one minute. So that’s two very different changes from where we are last year. The quality of the fit, the quality of the build, the quality of the product is a huge step upwards.
Packaging gains
“The packaging is another huge step upwards. And we haven’t even got into aerodynamics and suspension performance yet. Every area I look at in the car is just a world of difference for me from where we were before.
“We’re not finished on our journey, and I’m not here standing on a soapbox saying that we’re benchmark, but we’re on the right pathway to getting back there.”
A revelation about the flexi-wing clampdown
Another area that has proved a key focus of attention in F1 recently is surrounding the flexibility of front and rear wings and its allowed movement when under load, which the FIA has announced last month that it will be clamping down on even more from the Spanish GP onwards, in early June.
James Vowles revealed the FIA’s original plan was for a change at the Emilia-Romagna GP, two races earlier. He explained the teams lobbied for the change to be postponed given the difficulties imposed by having the Monaco GP just after. It’s a race that usually requires a very-specific set of wings that are already well advanced in production by the time the directive comes into force.
“So the first thing is, [there are] a couple of bits of information [that] actually may help,” said Vowles. “Originally, I think round seven they were going to change it, but we highlighted that it had Monaco in between, and it’s really difficult for teams to effectively have the right stock of front wings for Monaco.
“So [then] it got deferred back to the race after Monaco.”
How will it affect Williams?
The 45-year-old is confident that Williams won’t be severely affected by the new clampdown on flexi-wings with the F1 FW47. They are “not market-leading” in that respect says the British engineer. However, he expects it to have more “profound” effects on some of his rivals that currently get more performance benefits from it. It was a huge talking point in 2024.
“Our wing effectively was already along the pipeline of production when the rules had changed as a result of it. In terms of exploiting that area, I think you’ll find all teams are doing what they can. But there’s just going to be teams that are more advanced in that area than others. I don’t think we’re market-leading in that particular area.
“However, what I can also say is the rule change at round nine doesn’t particularly trouble me either, or trouble us as a result of that, and it probably will have a more profound effect on others.”
