Williams launch FW27, Heidfeld gets to drive

Yesterday Williams launched their 2005 contender to the Formula One World Championship, the FW27. Aside from the changes due to new regulations for 2005, if you don't know what you're looking for, the car looks extremely similar to the revised and tuskless FW26. Of course, change is a part of F1, and the FW27 is a completely different beast from the FW26, but with F1 regulations being so tight these days, innovations usually don't just jump out at you. But perhaps the biggest change with the FW27, is that it reverts back to a single-keel front suspension setup that Ferrari has been so successful with, leaving McLaren alone in pushing down the twin-keel route. The other big news of the day was an announcement literally moments before the FW27's launch, that Nick Heidfeld would partner Mark Webber at Williams in 2005, leaving Antonio Pizzonia noticably dejected as the team's third driver (although it is yet to be seen if he will pursue a race drive elsewhere). Of course it should be noted that Webber and Pizzonia partnered at Jaguar in 2003 where Pizzonia was thoroughly out-classed by Webber, and eventually replaced midway through the season, so this decision should not come as a surprise to anyone. Pictures from the launch of the FW27 are available here.