The FW42 was intended to improve upon the team's previous standings but faced immediate setbacks during the build phase. The car was not completed in time for the start of pre-season testing, forcing the team to miss the first two days of track time. It eventually debuted in the middle of the third day of testing, where George Russell performed the initial shakedown and completed 23 laps.
Throughout the remainder of the testing period, the team was limited to aerodynamic evaluations rather than performance runs. This was due to a lack of spare parts and the time lost during the initial build delay. The FW42 completed 567 laps in total—the lowest of any team in the field—and its fastest lap time was 1.9 seconds slower than the pace set by Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari. Even compared to the next slowest competitor, the FW42 remained over half a second behind.
The car's design faced scrutiny from the FIA before it ever raced. During pre-season testing, elements of the front suspension, mirrors, and bargeboards were declared illegal, necessitating a redesign of these components before the season opener in Australia.
Beyond regulatory compliance, the FW42 suffered from poor build quality and reliability issues. The car's pace in the early season was slower than its testing form suggested, frequently qualifying several seconds behind the rest of the field. In Russia, the car's technical fragility was highlighted when George Russell suffered a crash following brake issues, leading the team to retire Robert Kubica's healthy car specifically to conserve parts for future events.
The FW42 made its competitive debut at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix with drivers George Russell and Robert Kubica. Russell was the reigning 2018 FIA Formula 2 Champion making his debut, while Kubica returned to Formula One for his first full racing season since 2010. The opening race set a precedent for the season; both drivers finished at the back of the field, 16th and 17th, only moving up due to three retirements from other teams.
The team's only point of the season came at the German Grand Prix. In a race where seven drivers failed to finish, Robert Kubica crossed the line in 10th place. This result was secured after both Alfa Romeo drivers, who had finished 7th and 8th, were issued severe time penalties for the use of driver aids at the start of the race.
Signs of marginal progress appeared at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Russell narrowly missed out on advancing to the Q2 qualifying session. Grid penalties for other drivers occasionally allowed the FW42 to start higher than its qualifying speed suggested, such as in Italy where both cars started in the top 15. However, the car remained a backmarker for the duration of the year. The team's reliability record was marred late in the season by a double retirement in Russia and a significant crash by Kubica during qualifying at Suzuka, which required a chassis and gearbox change.
The FW42 featured a white base paint with a unique flourish blue livery. This marked a significant visual departure for the team following the conclusion of their title sponsorship with Martini. For the 2019 season, ROKiT joined as the new title sponsor. The car also carried branding for the deodorant manufacturer Rexona, marking the fifth and final year of that partnership.
The Williams FW42 finished 10th and last in the 2019 World Constructors' Championship. Its season total of one point was the result of Robert Kubica's 10th-place finish in Germany. George Russell outqualified Kubica for much of the season, including a three-second margin over the nearest non-Williams competitor at the opening round, but the car's inherent lack of pace prevented either driver from challenging for points on merit without external factors such as weather or penalties affecting the rest of the field.
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