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Formula One
F1: 2009 Season Review – Williams
A look back at the 2009 AT&T Williams Formula One Grand Prix Season...
SPEED Staff  |  Posted November 20, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Click Here for a look back at the 2009 AT&T Williams Grand Prix season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

AT&T Williams: Formula One Grand Prix Team

Team Principal: Sir Frank Williams

Drivers: Nico Rosberg, Kazuki Nakajima

Constructors Finish: 7th (34.5 points)

Best Finish: 4th (twice), Rosberg: Germany, Hungary

Poles: 0

Chassis: FW31 Engine: Toyota RVX-09

http://www.williamsf1.com/

The year began with a lot of promise for one of the oldest teams in Formula One. As one of only three teams equipped with the double diffuser and after a sixth place finish in the opening round by Nico Rosberg, there were great expectations. However while the team’s FW31 certainly seemed reliable, they were never able to find the speed to contend for wins or podiums.

The best finishes for the team came mid-season with Rosberg finishing fourth in Germany and Hungary. Nakajima struggled breaking inside the top-10 only twice all season.

“Although the car was competitive at the start of the year, we had some difficult races with accidents in Melbourne and poor weather in Malaysia and Shanghai,” chief operations engineer Rod Nelson told Formula One’s official website. “The middle of the season saw consistent performances, with eight points-scoring races in succession. The consistency faltered somewhat with a poor performance at Monza’s low downforce Autodromo, followed by a pit-lane penalty at Singapore, which robbed us of a good podium finish. We were once again looking likely for a podium finish at Brazil had it not have been for the gearbox failure, and we finished just out of the points at Abu Dhabi meaning we were unable to defend our position in the constructors’ championship.”

As for 2010, Rosberg announced prior to the final race of the season he would be leaving the only Formula One team he’s ever raced with and has been linked with either Brawn or McLaren.

Shortly after the season ended the team announced they will move from Toyota to Cosworth power for 2010 with an all new line-up of Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg. They also surprised many by announcing they were selling a minority share to an Austrian group led by investor and gentleman racer Christian ‘Toto’ Wolff.

The biggest loser seems to be Kazuki Nakajima who’s only hope for a ride next year seems to be in the hands of Toyota, who despite their withdrawal from the sport, said they would help Nakajima and fellow Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi secure seats for 2010.

PHOTOS: AT&T Williams 2009 Formula One Grand Prix Season Review
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