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.

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