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.
In Brief:
Date of Birth: 9th January 1973
Lives: Bodicote, Oxfordshire. UK.
Marital status: Married to Caroline, two children.
Nationality: British
1995 – 1996: Design Engineer, Handford Racing Services Ltd
1996 – 1998: Aerodynamicist, Swift Engineering Ltd, California
1998 – 2000: Chief Aerodynamicist, Precision Preparation Inc, California
2000 – 2002: Senior Aerodynamicist, Jordan Grand Prix
2002 – 2006: Deputy Head of Aerodynamics, Renault F1
November 2006: Head of Aerodynamics, Williams F1
(Jon Tomlinson - far left, talking to Ed Wood and Adam Parr).
