Jon Tomlinson - Chief Aerodynamicist
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Aerodynamics is Formula One's black art, a never-ending search for the optimum balance between downforce and drag. It is also one of the few areas over which the team has complete control.
Though relatively new to the team, Jon Tomlinson is under no illusion about his task. "Compromises need to be made and part of my job is realising what those compromises are," he says. "How important are the new aerodynamic steps and do they outweigh, for instance, having something heavy on the car? You have to be aware of the bigger picture."
Tomlinson's department designs a range of components which are tested in Williams' two wind tunnels, so he is well-placed to comment on the new aerodynamic trends.
"It won't be too dissimilar to the last few years," he says. "Tighter coke bottles round the engine, shrink-wrapping the mechanical packaging, making room for other devices, it will go in that direction. What will be interesting are the ways in which we and the teams come up with ideas…"
Watch this space.
(Jon Tomlinson - far left, talking to Ed Wood and Adam Parr).
