The activity at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya does not stop. Earlier in the week, it was Ferrari, and this Sunday, Williams has started one of the allowed tests with cars from other seasons. Each team has a total of 1,000 km available for these tests throughout the year.
Alex Albon was driving in the morning, and Carlos Sainz took over in the afternoon. This was Sainz’s second day with Williams, after previously participating in a Pirelli test in Abu Dhabi last December. Both drivers were able to get back into the rhythm of driving a Formula 1 car, which is beneficial for them and the team during the preseason.
The Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya remains a key track for teams to collect dynamic data on their cars. In this case, Williams was testing a car from two years ago, the FW45, which is allowed by the FIA. The team aims to gather various types of information that can be partially transferred to the development of their new car, the FW47, which will be unveiled on February 14.
The tests are not only focused on the car that will be used in Bahrain in three weeks but also on the first packages of evolving parts that will be introduced in Australia and subsequent races.
Within Williams, there is already talk about the contributions Carlos Sainz has made in his first three weeks working in the factory simulator. He brings quality details and four years of experience from his time at Ferrari, which can offer new lines of work to the team’s engineers. The excitement for a strong season is high, both for Sainz and the team’s principal, James Vowles.