Successful start of the Mercedes V6 engine for the Williams FW36
Williams F1 intends to run its 2014 challenger - the FW36 - in Jerez for the start of winter testing, and the Grove team seems on the right track as they started the V6 Turbo engine powering the car for the first time yesterday.
The Williams F1 team started the FW36 – equipped with a Mercedes V6 Turbo 1.6L engine – for the first time yesterday at its Grove factory. This was done in the presence of the team boss, Sir Frank Williams, as announced on the team’s Twitter feed: « Frank in race mode tonight as the FW36 starts for the first time! 2014 begins here… »
The British team therefore seems to be on the right track to be able to run in Jerez for the first pre-season tests of 2014, which will take place from January 28 to 31. The FW36 should be entrusted to the team’s two drivers during these four days of testing, Valtteri Bottas (#77) and Felipe Massa (#19).
The FW36 is the first Williams equipped with a turbo engine since 1987 and the very first in history to be equipped with a Mercedes engine, the team having frequently changed engine suppliers in recent years. Indeed, after partnering with Toyota between 2007 and 2009, the team switched to a Cosworth V8 block between 2010 and 2011, then to a Renault block between 2012 and 2013, and finally to a Mercedes block with the arrival of the 1.6L Turbo V6 in Formula 1 from 2014.
