Williams flying new nose to Bahrain

Manama : Williams is flying its new short nose to Bahrain with the aim to run it in Formula 1 final practice today.

The Grove-based outfit has run an old-spec nose this season with a production plan put in place to get it on the car in time for round two. The crash tests have been passed and it is now a race against time to get it to the Middle East in time.

Williams team principal Claire Williams told Autosport there is only one available and it has been decided that Felipe Massa will receive it.

It is believed Massa gets priority because he is ahead of Valtteri Bottas in the championship.

The team is already running a new floor on both cars in Bahrain along with smaller developments such as brake ducts.

The new nose is part of a series of developments Williams is introducing in its battle to get on top of its low-speed cornering weakness.

The feedback from the drivers and feelings within the team so far is the improvements have had a positive effect.