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Williams FW46

Williams FW46
An FW46 driven by Alexander Albon during the Austrian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorWilliams
Designer(s)Pat Fry (Chief Technical Officer)
David Worner (Design Director)
Jonathan Carter (Deputy Chief Designer)
Dave Robson (Head of Vehicle Performance
Adam Kenyon (Chief Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorWilliams FW45
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque, laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb
Suspension (front)Double wishbone, push-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)Double wishbone, pull-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar
EngineMercedes-AMG M15 E Performance
1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motorKinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
TransmissionMercedes-AMG 8 forward + 1 reverse gear seamless sequential semi-automatic shift plus reverse gear, gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated
BatteryLithium-ion battery
FuelGulf
LubricantsGulf
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry)
Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
Competition history
Notable entrantsWilliams Racing
Notable drivers
Debut2024 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
220000

The Williams FW46 is a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by Williams to compete in the 2024 Formula One World Championship. The car has been driven by Alexander Albon, Logan Sargeant and Franco Colapinto, the latter of whom replaced Sargeant for the final nine races of the season. The car is Williams' first to utilize an on-wheel multi-function display (MFD), the previous cars having the display set on the chassis itself.

Design and development

Sargeant and Albon revealing the FW46 in New York City

The FW46 was first revealed on 5 February 2024. It featured a livery largely similar to the one run on the FW44 and FW45 cars.[1] For the Mexico City and São Paulo Grands Prix, Williams introduced a special Mercado Libre livery to commorate its newfound partnership with the Argentine online marketplace. Mercado Libre became an official partner of Williams after the signing of Franco Colapinto.[2]

Season summary

Sargeant at the Dutch Grand Prix, his last race for the team

At the season opener at the Bahrain International Circuit, Albon and Sargeant qualified 13th and 18th respectively, finishing in 15th and 20th.[3] At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the drivers started 12th and 19th and finished in 11th and 14th. As there was no spare chassis available, Sargeant withdrew from the Australian Grand Prix to allow teammate Albon to use his chassis; Albon had crashed heavily in practice and the team were unable to repair his car.[4] Albon ultimately finished in twelfth. Sargeant damaged the repaired chassis in the following Japanese Grand Prix during the first free practice session.[5]

Sargeant was dropped from the Italian Grand Prix onwards with Williams Academy driver Franco Colapinto stepping up from his Formula 2 campaign to take his place for the remainder of the season.[6] At Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the team achieved their first double-points finish of the season with Albon in seventh and Colapinto in eighth. In the process, Colapinto became the first Argentine driver since Carlos Reutemann to score points in 1982.[7]

Complete Formula One results

Key
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
Annotation Meaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap
Superscript
number
Points-scoring position
in sprint
Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
BHR SAU AUS JPN CHN MIA EMI MON CAN ESP AUT GBR HUN BEL NED ITA AZE SIN USA MXC SAP LVG QAT ABU
2024 Williams Racing Mercedes-AMG
F1 M15 E Performance
1.6 V6 t
P Thailand Alex Albon 15 11 11 Ret 12 18 Ret 9 Ret 18 15 9 14 12 14 9 7 Ret 16 Ret DNS Ret 17* 9th*
United States Logan Sargeant 20 14 WD 17 17 Ret 17 15 Ret 20 19 11 17 17 16
Argentina Franco Colapinto 12 8 11 10 12 Ret 14
Source:

* Season still in progress.

References

  1. ^ Basile Davoine (5 February 2024). "Williams F1 présente la livrée 2024 de sa FW46". motorsport.com. Retrieved 24 February 2024..
  2. ^ Basile Davoine (24 October 2024). "Yellow returns to the Williams Racing livery". Williams Racing. Retrieved 24 October 2024. The Williams Racing FW46 driven by Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto in Mexico and Brazil will feature partner Mercado Libre's statement yellow branding on the engine cover – in a nod to the team's Championship-winning heritage. [...] Mercado Libre joined Williams as an Official Partner in August after Franco Colapinto's promotion to an F1 race seat.
  3. ^ "Williams Racing Report: 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix". Williams Racing. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Albon to take over Sargeant's car for remainder of Australia GP weekend after FP1 shunt". formula1.com. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  5. ^ Kew, Matt (5 April 2024). "Sargeant to race repaired F1 car in Suzuka; no spare Williams until Miami". Autosport.
  6. ^ "Williams Racing announces that Franco Colapinto will race with the team for the remainder of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season". Williams Racing. 27 August 2024. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Colapinto declares points finish 'a dream come true' as Williams celebrate double success in Baku". Formula One. 15 September 2024. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.