Frank Williams entered the F1 arena in 1969 with the Frank Williams Racing Cars team. Having sold his controlling interest in the original team to oil millionaire Walter Wolf, Frank founded Williams Grand Prix Engineering, débuting at the 1977 Spanish Grand Prix. Since then, Williams has won nine World Constructors' Championships and seven World Drivers' Championships.
Having struggled by their own high standards, to compete with the big manufacturer backed teams, Williams will be look forward to 2010 with renewed optimism. Their rivals have been cut back and with team budgets falling across the board will fancy their chances to compete. The team has been let down by the uncompetitive Toyota engine in recent seasons and will be hoping that the switch to the Cosworth power plant will bridge the performance gap to their rivals. Certainly, Williams will not be contemplating anything less than top of the Cosworth users and fifth place in the constructors' standings will represent a realistic target.
2009 Position: 7th, 34.5 Points
Rubens Barrichello
Entering his 18th season in Formula 1, Rubens Barrichello shows little sign of stopping having been rejuvenated by two victories in 2009, taking his tally up to eleven. The almost forgotten man of Formula 1 finished the last season in third spot, the fourth top three finish of his Formula 1 career and a fact that is often overlooked as he played second fiddle at Ferrari. 2010 brings him yet another team and one in which he will be expected to play a lead role.
2009: 3rd, 77 Points
Nico Hülkenberg
Nico Hülkenberg has rocketed through the lower categories after stepping up from karting, picking up Championships in Formula BMW, the Formula Three Euroseries and GP2 while also claiming the A1GP title for Germany. The GP2 title was particularly impressive, claiming it at the first attempt - a feat only previously achieved by Lewis Hamilton. After two seasons as Williams' test driver, the young German finally makes the step up to the race seat.
2009: GP2 Champion
Valtteri Bottas
Finland just seem to keep churning out drivers: 20-year old Valtteri Bottas is the latest to fall under the spotlight of Formula 1 after progressing through the lower series with a number of national karting championships to his name and culminating in third place in 2009's Formula Three Euroseries and a 5th place in the Macau Grand Prix. Valtteri will again race in the Formula Three Euroseries for 2010, staying at the top running ART team.
THE CAR Chassis: Williams FW32
Engine: Cosworth CA2010
THE TEAM Team Principal: Sir Frank Williams
Director of Engineering: Patrick Head
Chief Executive Officer: Adam Parr
Technical Director: Sam Michael
Chief Designer: Ed Wood
Chief Aerodynamacist: Jon Tomlinson
Chief Operations Engineer: Rod Nelson
Chief Operating Officer: Alex Burns
Team Manager: Tim Newton
