 Valtteri Bottas driving the FW34 during the FP1 at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Williams | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Mike Coughlan (Technical Director) Ed Wood (Chief Designer) Jason Somerville (Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | Williams FW33 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Williams FW35 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone, push-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone, pull-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar | ||||||||||
| Engine | Renault RS27-2012 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 naturally aspirated mid-mounted | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Williams F1 seven speed seamless sequential semi-automatic shift plus reverse gear, gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated | ||||||||||
| Weight | 640 kg (1,411.0 lb) (with driver) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Total | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet) RAYS forged magnesium wheels (front and rear): 13" | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Williams F1 Team | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 18.  Pastor Maldonado19.  Bruno Senna | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2012 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| First win | 2012 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last win | 2012 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
The Williams FW34 was a Formula One racing car designed by Williams F1 for the 2012 Formula One season.
Design
Following their worst season in their thirty-year history—in which they finished ninth in the World Constructors' Championship with just five points—the team underwent a technical review, employing former McLaren designer Mike Coughlan (having served his suspension for his role in the 2007 Formula One espionage controversy) as Chief Designer, and promoting Jason Somerville to Head of Aerodynamics.
The FW34 used the Renault RS27-2012 engine; the team had previously used Renault engines between 1989 and 1997. The car, which was launched on the 7 February 2012, was driven by Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna.
Racing history
At the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, Maldonado drove the FW34 to pole position and converted it to victory the next day. It was Maldonado's first and only Formula One race win, Williams' first race win since Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix driving an FW26, and Williams' most recent race win as of December 2024.
Livery
Drawing the inspiration from the Rothmans-sponsored FW19 of 1997, the blue colour on the engine cover was flipped along with other minor changes. PDVSA was retained for the second year with new sponsorships from Procter & Gamble products (Gillette and Head & Shoulders).
Gallery
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Bruno Senna 2012 Australian Grand Prix Practice, 16 March 2012
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Bruno Senna 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix Qualifying, 24 March 2012
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Pastor Maldonado 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix Practice, 23 March 2012
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Bruno Senna spinning at the start of the 2012 Australian Grand Prix
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Williams F1 | Renault RS27-2012 | P | AUS | MAL | CHN | BHR | ESP | MON | CAN | EUR | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | KOR | IND | ABU | USA | BRA | 76 | 8th | |
| Pastor Maldonado | 13 | 19 | 8 | Ret | 1 | Ret | 13 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | Ret | 11 | Ret | 8 | 14 | 16 | 5 | 9 | Ret | ||||||
| Bruno Senna | 16 | 6 | 7 | 22 | Ret | 10 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 10 | Ret |
Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed greater than 90% of the race distance.
References
- ^ Collantine, Keith (28 June 2011). "Williams appoints new technical staff for 2012 car". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- "Williams FW34 - F1technical.net".
- ^ Beer, Matt (4 July 2011). "Williams to run Renault engines again from 2012". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- Noble, Jonathan (25 January 2012). "Pirelli tweaks tyre markings for 2012 F1 season". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- "Pastor Maldonado Confirmed for 2012 with Valtteri Bottas as Reserve Driver". Williams F1. 1 December 2011. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- Elizalde, Pablo (17 January 2012). "Williams confirms Bruno Senna will race for the team in F1 in 2012". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- "Williams". Formula1.com. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- Collantine, Keith (9 December 2011). "Williams fall into F1's vicious cycle". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
External links
| « previous Cars that competed in the 2012 Formula One World Championship next » | |
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