Williams reveal photos of new F1 2017 car

Williams is the first team to launch pictures of their 2017 car, showing how the new regulations have considerably impacted the appearance of Formula One machines for the season.

Pictures of the team’s Mercedes-powered FW40 – called to mark Williams’ 40th anniversary – clearly show the wider and lower attributes of the new cars.

The 2017 regulations modifications have been designed to increase downforce and grip, making vehicles both faster and physically more difficult to drive, with a decrease in lap time of around 3 to 5 seconds expected.

At the wheel of the FW40 will be Felipe Massa, who rejoined Williams after his retirement as Valtteri Bottas left for Mercedes, and Canadian novice Lance Stroll.

25 February is the date scheduled for official launch.

The team hope the new vehicle will assist raise them back up the grid after they dropped from third in 2015’s final constructor standings to fifth spot last season.