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Williams FW44
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<h2 id="design-and-development">Design and development</h2> <p>The FW44 was first revealed on 15 February 2022 with a shakedown at <a href="/facts/Silverstone_Circuit/acLpF4xW">Silverstone Circuit</a>. Both Albon and Latifi drove the car. On the same day, Williams launched their new livery for 2022 which was a darker blue design compared to the previous predominantly white cars.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>With 2022 featuring new technical regulations, the FW44 is a significantly different design to the FW43. With a notably tight design around the sidepod radiators, aerodynamics from the front pushing air to the floor which will be generating ground effect. The FW44 once again utilised <a href="/facts/Mercedes_AMG_High_Performance_Powertrains/t6pK0nVY">Mercedes AMG</a> engines, however it is the first Williams to also utilise their gearbox.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>During the first rounds of the season, paint was gradually removed from the FW44 to save weight. Discussions about removing the paint happened, however it did not materialise due to the marketing and sponsorship requirements of the team.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>At the British Grand Prix, a major update for the FW44 was revealed with a new floor, sidepod design and rear wing. The design was similar to that of the <a href="/facts/Red_Bull_Racing_RB18/MM27GCKt">Red Bull</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> At the following Grand Prix in Austria, Williams added further revisions to the front suspension of the FW44.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="racing-performance">Racing performance</h2> <p>At the first round of the season in <a href="/facts/2022_Bahrain_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">Bahrain</a>, both Latifi and Albon were able to complete the race. In <a href="/facts/2022_Saudi_Arabian_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">Saudi Arabia</a>, both cars were involved in collisions but Albon was classified 14th due to the amount of race distance completed. At the third round of the season in <a href="/facts/2022_Australian_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">Australia</a>, the FW44 picked up its first point with Albon finishing in 10th.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> In <a href="/facts/2022_Miami_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">Miami</a>, Albon would finish in 9th place adding two more points to the team total.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p> <p>Ahead of the <a href="/facts/2022_Spanish_Grand_Prix/UGBg8cBJ">Spanish Grand Prix</a>, <a href="/facts/Nyck_De_Vries/wE6Hox8B">Nyck De Vries</a> took the wheel of the FW44 in FP1.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> He completed 28 laps, and was classified in 18th position ahead of regular driver Nicholas Latifi.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p><p>At <a href="/facts/2022_British_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">Silverstone</a>, Albon was involved in a major incident at the first corner involving <a href="/facts/Zhou_Guanyu/ENu7wwtL">Zhou Guanyu</a>, <a href="/facts/George_Russell_(racing_driver)/qYfw6xEt">George Russell</a> and <a href="/facts/Pierre_Gasly/D6ktGmXq">Pierre Gasly</a>. Zhou's Alfa Romeo flipped over the top of Albon's Williams before launching over the tyre wall into the catch fencing. Albon was sent to <a href="/facts/University_Hospital_Coventry/Wdb9f321">University Hospital Coventry</a> for checks after the crash, however was released on the same day.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="livery">Livery</h2> <p>This was the first Williams car to not feature the <a href="/facts/Ayrton_Senna/9HBINjgm">Ayrton Senna</a> tribute logo. Capito said that "the decision was that we want to move on in the future".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="complete-formula-one-results">Complete Formula One results</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Year</th><th rowspan="2">Entrant</th><th rowspan="2">Power unit</th><th rowspan="2">Tyres</th><th rowspan="2">Driver name</th><th colspan="22">Grands Prix</th><th rowspan="2">Points</th><th rowspan="2">WCC pos.</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/2022_Bahrain_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">BHR</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Saudi_Arabian_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">SAU</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Australian_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">AUS</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Emilia_Romagna_Grand_Prix/tnJyn71S">EMI</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Miami_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">MIA</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Spanish_Grand_Prix/UGBg8cBJ">ESP</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Monaco_Grand_Prix/tm0yN3u4">MON</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Azerbaijan_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">AZE</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Canadian_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">CAN</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_British_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">GBR</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Austrian_Grand_Prix/PVXxa3Hq">AUT</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_French_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">FRA</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Hungarian_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">HUN</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Belgian_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">BEL</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Dutch_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">NED</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Italian_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">ITA</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Singapore_Grand_Prix/J7SsM66d">SIN</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Japanese_Grand_Prix/dLFNKzwK">JPN</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_United_States_Grand_Prix/CUI5Dcw4">USA</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Mexico_City_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">MXC</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_S%25C3%25A3o_Paulo_Grand_Prix/wtIkUKls">SAP</a></th><th><a href="/facts/2022_Abu_Dhabi_Grand_Prix/t6BurQAr">ABU</a></th></tr><tr><th rowspan="3"><a href="/facts/2022_Formula_One_World_Championship/wtIkUKls">2022</a></th><td rowspan="3"><a href="/facts/Williams_Racing/IpLQRtum">Williams Racing</a></td><td rowspan="3"><a href="/facts/Mercedes_AMG_High_Performance_Powertrains/t6pK0nVY">Mercedes</a>-AMG F1 M13</td><td rowspan="3"><a href="/facts/Pirelli/C8ygGWng">P</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Thailand/GCUnN4JK"></a> <a href="/facts/Alexander_Albon/1Jxu9I93">Alexander Albon</a></td><td>13</td><td>14†</td><td>10</td><td>11</td><td>9</td><td>18</td><td>Ret</td><td>12</td><td>13</td><td>Ret</td><td>12</td><td>13</td><td>17</td><td>10</td><td>12</td><td>WD</td><td>Ret</td><td>Ret</td><td>13</td><td>12</td><td>15</td><td>13</td><th rowspan="3">8</th><th rowspan="3">10th</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Canada/cWWFM8oc"></a> <a href="/facts/Nicholas_Latifi/JjUJ4z6M">Nicholas Latifi</a></td><td>16</td><td>Ret</td><td>16</td><td>16</td><td>14</td><td>16</td><td>15</td><td>15</td><td>16</td><td>12</td><td>Ret</td><td>Ret</td><td>18</td><td>18</td><td>18</td><td>15</td><td>Ret</td><td>9</td><td>17</td><td>18</td><td>16</td><td>19†</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Netherlands/y8xn5stT"></a> <a href="/facts/Nyck_de_Vries/wE6Hox8B">Nyck de Vries</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>9</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><th colspan="29">Reference:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></th></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Albon ruled out of Italian Grand Prix with appendicitis, as replacement De Vries prepares to make F1 race debut | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 11 September 2022. <a href="https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-albon-ruled-out-of-italian-grand-prix-with-appendicitis-as.5TjaGYJohrzYVyKqLvSy5Y.html" target="_blank">https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-albon-ruled-out-of-italian-grand-prix-with-appendicitis-as.5TjaGYJohrzYVyKqLvSy5Y.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Formula 1 2022 Technical Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 20 January 2022. <a href="https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/2022_formula_1_technical_regulations_-_iss_3_-_2021-02-19.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/2022_formula_1_technical_regulations_-_iss_3_-_2021-02-19.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Recap 2022 Season Launch". Williams F1. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.williamsf1.com/live-experience/51c0a1fb-8b60-4313-bdd2-6661d0c8ed45/2022-season-launch" target="_blank">https://www.williamsf1.com/live-experience/51c0a1fb-8b60-4313-bdd2-6661d0c8ed45/2022-season-launch</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"The FW44 debuts at Silverstone shakedown". Williams F1. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.williamsf1.com/posts/517805f9-cc75-427a-873c-12cdcd39f3f9/the-fw44-debuts-at-silverstone-shakedown" target="_blank">https://www.williamsf1.com/posts/517805f9-cc75-427a-873c-12cdcd39f3f9/the-fw44-debuts-at-silverstone-shakedown</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"ANALYSIS: Williams forge their own path with FW44 design". Formula 1. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-williams-forge-their-own-path-with-fw44-design.5u6wJFgUpltHBHl479PX0d.html" target="_blank">https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-williams-forge-their-own-path-with-fw44-design.5u6wJFgUpltHBHl479PX0d.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Williams FW44 tech rundown with Craig Scarborough". Motorsport Technology. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://motorsport.tech/formula-1/williams-fw44-tech-rundown-with-craig-scarborough" target="_blank">https://motorsport.tech/formula-1/williams-fw44-tech-rundown-with-craig-scarborough</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Williams engineers asked if entire F1 car could be stripped of paint". Autosport. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/williams-engineers-asked-if-entire-f1-car-could-be-stripped-of-paint/10268319/" target="_blank">https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/williams-engineers-asked-if-entire-f1-car-could-be-stripped-of-paint/10268319/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Williams unveils heavily updated FW44 for Albon at Silverstone". Motorsport Web. July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/07/01/williams-unveils-heavily-updated-fw44-for-albon-at-silverstone/" target="_blank">https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/07/01/williams-unveils-heavily-updated-fw44-for-albon-at-silverstone/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"How Williams F1 update isn't just a Red Bull clone". Autosport. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/revealed-how-williams-f1-update-isnt-just-a-red-bull-clone/10330731/" target="_blank">https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/revealed-how-williams-f1-update-isnt-just-a-red-bull-clone/10330731/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Latest Austrian GP F1 updates revealed". Motorsport. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022. <a href="https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/latest-austrian-gp-f1-updates-revealed/10334778/" target="_blank">https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/latest-austrian-gp-f1-updates-revealed/10334778/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Alex Albon reveals Australian Grand Prix tactics after unexpected points finish". The Independent. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/alex-albon-tactics-australian-grand-prix-williams-b2056423.html" target="_blank">https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/alex-albon-tactics-australian-grand-prix-williams-b2056423.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Albon: Miami result "less surprising" than Australia". Autosport. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/albon-miami-result-less-surprising-than-australia/10302763/" target="_blank">https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/albon-miami-result-less-surprising-than-australia/10302763/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"De Vries to be 'thrown in the deep' on FP1 bow". Planet F1. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.planetf1.com/news/nyck-de-vries-williams-fp1-deep-end/" target="_blank">https://www.planetf1.com/news/nyck-de-vries-williams-fp1-deep-end/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2022 – PRACTICE 1". Formula 1. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1111/spain/practice-1.html" target="_blank">https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1111/spain/practice-1.html</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"Albon 'pretty much back to normal' after Silverstone crash – as he confirms Williams' update package is 'salvageable'". Formula 1. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.albon-pretty-much-back-to-normal-after-silverstone-crash-as-he-confirms.2eFaumrBPcoVIGJXUnlzH.html" target="_blank">https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.albon-pretty-much-back-to-normal-after-silverstone-crash-as-he-confirms.2eFaumrBPcoVIGJXUnlzH.html</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"British Grand Prix: Zhou Guanyu and Alex Albon escape major injuries after alarming Silverstone crash". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12645011/british-grand-prix-zhou-guanyu-conscious-after-alarming-silverstone-crash-at-start-of-race" target="_blank">https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12645011/british-grand-prix-zhou-guanyu-conscious-after-alarming-silverstone-crash-at-start-of-race</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Albon released from hospital following Silverstone crash". Planet F1. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022. <a href="https://www.planetf1.com/news/alex-albon-leaves-hospital-silverstone-crash/" target="_blank">https://www.planetf1.com/news/alex-albon-leaves-hospital-silverstone-crash/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Cleeren, Filip; Noble, Jonathan (15 February 2022). "Williams explains decision to remove Senna S logo from 2022 F1 car". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025. <a href="https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-explains-decision-to-remove-senna-s-logo-from-2022-f1-car/8196680/" target="_blank">https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/williams-explains-decision-to-remove-senna-s-logo-from-2022-f1-car/8196680/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"2022 Constructor Standings". Formula1.com. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022. <a href="https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/team.html" target="_blank">https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/team.html</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"Williams FW44". StatsF1. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022. <a href="https://www.statsf1.com/en/williams-fw44.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.statsf1.com/en/williams-fw44.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>