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No step on 2013 Williams

ESPN Staff
January 9, 2013 « Hamilton arriving at the right time - Schumacher | Whitmarsh impressed by Perez »
The stepped nose will not feature on the 2013 Williams © Sutton Images
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Valtteri Bottas has revealed there will be no stepped nose on the 2013 Williams FW35.

The 2012 regulations which allowed a higher chassis height than nose height led to the majority of teams utilising a step between the chassis and nose of the car. Only McLaren and Marussia did not take this approach, and in an effort to make the cars more aesthetically pleasing the Technical Working Group agreed on a modesty panel, which the FIA then approved in its technical regulations.

Looking ahead to his debut season with Williams, Bottas said that the FW35 would be an evolution of the previous car but confirmed the team had covered the nose.

"As far as looks, the (2013) car is pretty much as it was last year," he told MTV3. "With the new rules, the step nose is straightened. That is the biggest difference in appearance. The new car is a development version of last year's. There are certain improvements in aerodynamics. We have tried to focus on getting more traction in corners."

Bottas will partner Pastor Maldonado in 2013 after replacing Bruno Senna, having taken part in 15 Friday practice sessions last season.

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