AT&T Williams Race Summaries
Australia
29th March
Albert Park
The AT&T Williams team didn’t manage to fulfil its potential in a typically incident-packed opening race in Melbourne today, and had to content itself with a handful of points and a fastest race lap to take to next weekend’s Malaysian GP. With the cars running in the top five and both drivers showing some committed overtaking manoeuvres, the team’s march was interrupted by a problem in Nico’s first pitstop on lap 16. Shortly afterwards, Kazuki had a high-speed spin, hitting the wall and retiring. From here Nico fought to recover lost ground, in the process setting the fastest lap of the race and collecting three points for a sixth place finish.
Rosberg - DNF
Nakajima - 6th
Malaysia
5th April
Sepang International Circuit
A flawless start to the race saw Nico take the lead going into the first corner, which he retained up until his first pitstop on lap 15. Wheel-spin off the line cost Kazuki position to the surrounding KERS-equipped cars at the start, forcing him to spend the opening stage of the race behind a slower Piquet in the Renault. A later start time of 5pm this year saw Malaysia’s notorious early evening storms arrive mid-way through proceedings, as anticipated. With lightening striking the grandstands and lashing rain quickly turning the track into a swimming pool, the safety car was soon deployed before Race Control red flagged the Grand Prix seconds later on lap 32. Little improvement in the conditions kept the cars on the start/finish straight for over 45 minutes before the stewards ruled out a re-start.
Rosberg - 8th
Nakajima - 12th
China
19th April
Shanghai International Circuit
This year’s Chinese Grand Prix played out under steady rainfall creating difficult conditions for the drivers and a host of cars falling off the race track throughout the 56 laps. With the race started under the safety car, the team opted to alter Nico’s strategy, bringing him in early from seventh position. Unfortunately, an unexpectedly premature end to the safety car period left Nico at the back of the pack and unable to recover position leaving him in P15 at the end of the race. Kazuki’s afternoon was similarly fruitless. After several excursions off the race track, his race ended on lap 43 following the team’s first mechanical failure since the Spanish Grand Prix last year.
Rosberg - 15th
Nakajima - DNF
Bahrain
26th April
Bahrain International Circuit
A more predictable Grand Prix unfolded at Bahrain’s International Circuit which compounded its reputation as one of the most hostile racing environments on the calendar as temperatures reached a sweltering 55°C in the cockpit. Effectively fighting from last place following a second lap incident which resulted in a premature stop for a new front wing, Kazuki Nakajima was unable to recover any significant ground during the race and, with only eight laps to go, was ultimately forced into retirement following an oil pressure problem. Nico Rosberg lost position at the start but soon settled into a consistent pace among the melee of top ten drivers. Traffic, however, compromised Nico’s strategy and prevented him from improving upon his position leaving him to conclude the Grand Prix where he started, in ninth and just outside of the points.
Rosberg - 9th
Nakajima - DNF
Spain
10th May
Circuit de Catalunya
A closely fought Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona opened the European rounds of the 2009 World Championship. Starting in P11, Kazuki Nakajima became embroiled in the second corner incident which prompted a premature pitstop for a new nose and a change in strategy. Rejoining at the back of the pack, Kazuki was unable to improve any further than P13. Nico Rosberg benefited from a cleaner start, moving into P7 from a P9 grid position by the end of lap one. Inconsistency compromised a strong strategy and left Nico in P8 and with one point at race end.
Rosberg - 8th
Nakajima - 13th
Monaco
24th May
Circuit de Monaco
The AT&T Williams team claimed a handful of points in the blue riband Monaco Grand Prix after Nico Rosberg claimed a creditable sixth position, in the process demonstrating some of the standout overtaking manoeuvres in the early part of the race despite the constraints of the narrow street circuit.
The FW31 showed good inherent pace around the streets of the Principality, but both drivers were unable to press any advantage home and after the rounds of pitstops had played out, both drivers reverted to their original grid positions out on the track. Nico’s team-mate Kazuki Nakajima took a different direction with a long fuelled first stint that saw him hold his grid position almost to the finish, but a late accident on lap 76 concluded his Monaco race.
Rosberg - 6th
Nakajima - DNF
Turkey
7th June
Istanbul Park
The AT&T Williams team enjoyed their best finish of the season so far with Nico Rosberg’s fifth place. Both drivers made strong starts, Kazuki gaining two positions off the line promoting him to P10, while Nico progressed from ninth on the grid to P5 by the end of lap one, the position in which he ended the race. Running in P7 ahead of his second and final stop, the potential for a season first points-paying place for Kazuki was removed by a sticky wheel nut. The extended pitstop put him back out in 12th where he concluded the race. Nico’s four points promotes the team to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Rosberg - 5th
Nakajima - 12th
Great Britain
21st June
Silverstone Circuit
This year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone delivered another points-scoring finish for the AT&T Williams team in front of a home crowd. Nico Rosberg claimed a second successive fifth place finish, his four points promoting the team into the top half of the Constructors’ Championship to fifth place. Despite gaining track position in the first lap and running in fourth up until his first stop, Kazuki Nakajima was unable to convert the competitive pace he’d demonstrated all weekend and dropped down the order to end the race in P11.
Rosberg - 5th
Nakajima - 11th
Germany
12th July
Nurburgring
Hungary
26th July
Hungaroring Sport RT
Europe
23rd August
Valencia Street Circuit
Belgium
30th August
Spa Grand Prix S.A.
Italy
13th September
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Singapore
27th September
Singapore Street Circuit
Japan
4th October
Suzuka
Brazil
18th October
Autodromo Carlos Pace
Abu Dhabi
1st November
Yas Marina Circuit
