 Heidfeld puts the new car through its paces at Valencia |
Williams pledged not to make the same mistakes as last season as they unveiled their 2005 car on Monday. The BMW-powered team finished a disappointing fourth last year after they struggled to solve the problems of the "walrus-nosed" FW26.
At the launch of the FW27, team boss Frank Williams said: "The mistakes of 2004 must not happen again.
"We must implement the new regulations to our best advantage and be completely with it when it comes down to it."
Williams also announced on Monday that Germany's Nick Heidfeld had beaten Antonio Pizzonia to the second driver's spot alongside Mark Webber.
Neither driver has ever won an F1 race, but Williams are hopeful that their new car will prove competitive.
The car is their lightest yet, with smaller side-pods and a far more conventional frontal design than last year's model.
The design reflects this season's rule changes, with a higher front wing and the rear wing moved forwards.
But while there are few changes to the FW27's design, technical director Sam Michael said his team's focus had been on reliability.
"While reducing weight, a lot of attention has been placed on reliability, in particular the gearbox," he said.
"The FW27 gearbox has been running on the track since November 2004 with no major problems and any issues we had with last season's gearbox have been resolved."
Last year's walrus nose, which was abandoned mid-season, stemmed from an approach to the design of suspension and aerodynamics at the front of the car called "twin-keel". This is where the suspension on each side of the car is mounted on separate arms jutting out from the lower edge of the chassis.
Williams have abandoned this lay-out for 2005, reverting to the single-keel design used by Ferrari.
In this, the left and right lower suspension wishbones are attached to a single mounting point under the centre of the chassis.
The twin-keel has the advantage of providing better airflow under the nose of the car, improving its aerodynamic downforce.
But it can also create an instability in the car, which in a single-keel design is often easier to manage.
MMIX
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