The 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has already noticed a significant amount of changes to the 2025 Williams car ahead of the new season.
Entering the final year before the new regulation comes into place for the 2026 season, teams are expected to make very few alterations from 2024 in preparation for the new rules.
After McLaren unveiled the MCL39 on Thursday, Williams showcased its FW47 at the same track in Silverstone.
The Grove-based squad have a new driver for 2025 with Carlos Sainz making the switch from Ferrari to partner alongside Alex Albon.
It was the Spaniard who took to the track on Valentine’s Day with a special launch livery, as the British team will reveal its actual livery at the F1 75 Live event this Monday.
Button, however, observed several modifications to the Williams car as he stood beside the FW47 during the live launch event on Williams’ YouTube channel.
“First of all, looks beautiful, it really does,” Button said.
“As you guys probably know there’s not going to be massive changes with any F1 cars in 2025 but there seems to be quite a lot of changes to the FW47, which is great to see.”
Team principal James Vowles shared the opinion of the Williams’ ambassador whilst speaking to the media including Motorsport Week.
“Every area I look at in the car is just a world of difference for me from where we were before,” he said.
Williams’ focus has been on ‘high downforce’ says Button
The British outfit finished ninth in the Constructors’ Standings last season, scoring 17 points across 24 rounds.
The 45-year-old was keen to highlight the key areas which the team have targeted for its development heading into the 2025 F1 season.
“Areas they’ve been working on have been high downforce corners, but also sensitivity,” Button explained.
“Sensitivity meaning with the downforce, it’s very easy to have a peak downforce level which is always exciting to see the number.
“But it’s the usable downforce that you really want to have.
“So in corner downforce, laterally loaded downforce and entry into corners, which gives the drivers a lot of confidence.”
Vowles achieved the best result for the team since 2017 in his first season as team principal of the iconic motor racing brand.
The former Mercedes employee will have a race winner at his disposal with Sainz eager to lead the Williams revival back to the front of the grid.
READ MORE: Carlos Sainz reveals run in Williams 2024 F1 car was ‘better than expected’
Discussion about this post