Formula One news

Williams confident of stronger performance in Bahrain

After a stronger performance in Malaysia, the BMW WilliamsF1 Team travels to the unique desert setting of Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The team hopes to capitalise on an intense period of development which has seen an vast number of changes brought to the FW27.  

"Following the improved performance of the FW27 seen in Malaysia, we are looking forward to the Bahrain Grand Prix," said technical director Sam Michael. "The FW27 is getting faster, but it is still not quick enough to be competing at the front yet, but that is definitely our target. The Bahrain circuit has some long straights and slow speed corners which drive the minimum lift to drag ratio requirement upwards. Although it is still a high downforce circuit, this means that minimizing drag is important in Bahrain. It will therefore be interesting to see where all the teams are placed. Based on last year's race, there are plenty of overtaking opportunities as well which should provide for an exciting Grand Prix. We will have some more aerodynamic improvements for the FW27 in Bahrain and Michelin will bring one known, and one new, tyre choice. In terms of compound hardness, we were still slightly conservative in the last Grand Prix, but Michelin are getting much closer to the optimum compound region now." 

"Pit stop strategy is likely to be similar to that seen in the first two races," he added. "Aside from driver mistakes, once the Saturday qualifying session has been run it is quite difficult to significantly move grid position from the Sunday qualifying session as the effect of fuel load has been halved."

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• 14 Oct.
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  • BMW to support Kubica in his championship battle
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• 13 Oct.
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  • Brawn: China won't be any different
  • Hamilton blames Massa for crash
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• 12 Oct.
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• 11 Oct.
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  • Ferrari faces uphill battle
  • Williams struggles in qualifying
  • Another double top ten for Toro Rosso
  • McLaren delighted with qualifying

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