Rubens Barrichello says the new restrictions on hot-blown diffusers could help Williams at this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Speaking to F1 Fanatic at an event organised by Williams sponsor Randstad, Barrichello said: “We’re going to have to see what’s what this weekend.
“I don’t think the top four teams will change very much. They’re top, and they will lose that edge, but I think the actual teams will be the same.
“For a team like Williams that did not have a blown exhaust running so well, it may be that we move a bit forward. So we have to see – it may not change anything.
“We have plans to improve the car – new front wing, new floor, new everything, new suspension – that, hopefully, will move us forward in a direction that we want. We want to finish the season in the top six all the time.”
Sauber, Force India and Toro Rosso are the team’s “targets” according to Barrichello.
Barrichello said the team have struggled to correlate wind tunnel and track performance with the FW32: “The biggest thing that we need to address is the translation from the wind tunnel to the track. That’s the biggest thing we have to do.
“Having said that all the engineers will try to make the car stiffer, lower the centre of gravity of the car – all the common things – and so it’s good to have a fresh face and see what it’s going to be for next year.”
Renault “good news” for Williams
Williams have announced they will be using Renault engines next year. This follows the hiring of Mike Coughlan, Jason Somerville and Mark Gillan to develop the 2012 car.
Barrichello endorsed the move, saying: “It’s been coming, in a way. It’s been good news.
“I was not supposed to be in England [on Monday] but I decided to come one day earlier to be at the announcement.
“I think the team is going through the phase of a lot of changes, which is good, because if they didn’t do any changes – and we’re not doing very well – it would be very bad. I like the changes, I like the attitude of the team and I like Renault coming, I think it’s a step forward.”
“I’m so excited about going flat out in the car”
Barrichello does not have a contract for 2012 yet, and says he wants to remain with Williams:
“I would love the team to say ‘we are committed to him’ and then the driver to say ‘I am committed to the team’. I am doing everything I can, in my power, to make the team better for next year. That includes my will to race next year and beyond.
“For sure, we’re going to have to talk quite soon about that and right now we only briefly talked.”
Asked if his experience made him the best candidate for the job when the team were going through such great change, Barrichello said: “I would say so – without being arrogant, I would say I’m qualified for the job.
“But more than anything else it’s because I’m so enthusiastic about my job, I’m so excited about going flat out in the car.
“I’m running with the young guys and I don’t care I’m just going flat out, I’m enjoying myself. I think Williams can benefit more from that than [my] actual experience. The experience comes as a free thing, it comes because I have it, but I’m so excited to keep on flat out and just enjoy myself.
“So I hope we can put up a good car because I’m ready to win more.”
Pictures: Williams Renault engine announcement
2011 F1 season
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Images © F1 Fanatic, Williams/LAT
Stephen Hill
6th July 2011, 14:04
or, and most likely, will not make any difference.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th July 2011, 14:12
Did you read the article or just the headline?
unocv12
6th July 2011, 15:54
Check and mate…
Turns out by having a dodgy engine and not being able to have a blown diffuser, they have been able to get ahead by not wasting time on it!
Nick
7th July 2011, 1:44
the article was great! Wonderful news for sure! Rubinho stays too, Williams without him, a thing out of the question.
Luib
7th July 2011, 5:46
Yah, I read the article, and also see that Mike Coughlan is back. Ruben’s hopes are pinned to a new engine (the same for Lotus, and look where they stand)and f?&**** cheater and a thief as a main designer to resuscitate the glory of a team that no one remember the last time they won anything!!1
Robbie
6th July 2011, 14:14
Sounds a bit funny…we’ll move a bit forward because the others may take a small step back? Yet they’ll stay the same? Oh, I don’t know, perhaps nothing will change? LOL
Anyhoo, cool to see JV overlooking his WDC winning car. I wonder how much of an ‘antique’ it looks like compared to today’s cars.
Fixy (@)
6th July 2011, 15:17
I thought Sauber weren’t using an OTBD.
zecks
6th July 2011, 15:47
correct, and they looked pretty useful on low tire wear circuits
BasCB (@bascb)
6th July 2011, 20:23
Exactly, nor are STR, I think (and the tail ender teams)
Fixy (@)
6th July 2011, 21:14
So Williams, Sauber and Toro Rosso will all lose nothing. So Williams will have these three teams to battle with anyway.
BasCB (@bascb)
7th July 2011, 6:59
Yeah, seems not too much might change in the midfield then. Only FI and probably Renault being hauled in by all of them.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
6th July 2011, 14:38
Williams do need some major shake up, I hope along with Engine they also change the technical side & help the team to come in front to fight for the WC.
McLarenFanJamm
6th July 2011, 16:53
That’s why they’ve been hiring and firing a load of technical staff ;)
Stefanauss (@stefanauss)
6th July 2011, 15:14
I’m particularly interested in finding out how much the ban will affect Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes exhaust solutions compared to Renault’s.
But Rubens is right IMO, top teams will stay this same 5.
James S
6th July 2011, 18:38
I’m sure I heard somewhere the ban could lose up to 2 seconds on some teams. If that were the case then Williams/Sauber could be right up there. Can’t see it happening though :/
Steph (@)
6th July 2011, 21:01
The more I read about the mid season rule change the more I hate it. I love F1 more than any other sport but the more the years go on the more I think F1 forgets about how ‘the outside world’ looks at it. In the past few years we’ve had rows about stewarding, race fixing, the spygate mess and the outrage about the FIA’s verdict and now we’re back to the days of mid season rule changes that I feel to quite a few fans (correct me if I’m making a sweeping generalisation here) seems just like an attempt to stop Seb. I still believe the F1 World Championship is the most presitigious award in motorsport but when I ask my friends who don’t really follow the sport what they think about it they feel the consistency is a joke.
I understand that rule changes are sometimes neccessary and loopholes aren’t obvious until the teams exploit them but unless it’s an urgent safety matter I always believe changes should be made after the current racing season not just because I think it is fair but for F1’s reputation.
Valentino
6th July 2011, 21:27
I am a Ferrari fan, and I don’t like the rule changes. Not in mid-season…
hohum
6th July 2011, 22:07
Quite right Steph, innovators should be rewarded not penalised and if that means a mid-field team suddenly becomes a top team ( eg Honda-Brawn) for a year what’s not to like.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
7th July 2011, 6:09
Yep. I’m in two minds about it. To me, it seems wrong that they’re doing it simply to slow down Sebastian Vettel, but on the other hand I love a close championship… :P
TheBrav3
7th July 2011, 4:12
How can they judge it a joke if as you say they don’t follow it. That means the only information they have to go on is what you give them which is clearly biased. Probably they are just agreeing with you because it seems to be what you want.
“correct me if I’m making a sweeping generalisation here”
Ok, yes not many people agree but most people are smart enough to know that this technically should have been illegal at the start of the year. Upon finding that out (Yes the fia is not all knowing, they have a handfull of engineers to make and enforce the rules vs 200+ from every team. So that’s for the sake of arguement 40 good enginers vs 2400+ of the worlds finest and highley paid engineers specificly employed to bend the rules.) the fia had two choices.
Do nothing and face the wrath of the bottom half of the grid getting in a huff over something that was happening that is and has been since the start of the year technically illegal. possibly starting legal action, abstaining from or protesting race results or leaving the sport all together. Any of which would be terrible for f1(what ever bernie says). Option two, say to the top teams ok you’ve had you’re fun you shouldn’t be doing it everyone’s in the same boat so unlucky. ferrari mclaren and renault have been around long enough to know how f1 works and redbull and mercedes have experienced enough team memebers to know that to. It’s not right but it is f1.
TommyC
7th July 2011, 5:07
So you’re here why?
Nick
7th July 2011, 1:47
enough about diffusers guys. This article is about the Williams/Renault comeback and Rubens’ desire to stay in the team, something really wish for. Go Rubinho >>
UKfanatic (@)
7th July 2011, 2:57
This news is just a relief for the drivers and technical staff. the big mistake made in pre-season, no more people will get fired. They went 100% on the new gearbox and trying to package the car perfectly. They didnt knew how blown diffusers could affect performance, but now I think they are getting all things sorted, going back to bases in-terms of set-ups and enginnering techniques, and thinking on the future engines, clinching a contract with Renault, that will most definately give Williams a very competitive engine next year, and maybe the best in 2014.Cosworth seems to be in danger now having half of the teams they had last season.
Alistair
7th July 2011, 3:25
Newey said that the Red Bull cars, unlike the other cars, were designed around this device. Hopefully, it really hurts them to go without. Otherwise, the championship is essentially over. Vettel will win again: only because his car is by far the best, his team-mate is rubbish, and the team favours and is built around Vettel. Vettel wins from pole. Perhaps the Schumi comparisons are fair, after all.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
7th July 2011, 21:22
Really hope Williams turn it around for Barrichello, he deserves to go out on a high.