'End of an era' - F1 fans stunned as team DITCH long-standing tradition

Williams have decided to get rid of the chassis-mounted dash that has been in place since the start of the hybrid era in 2014.

The team have instead opted to have a digital dash built into their steering wheel, bringing them into line with the other nine teams on the grid.

Williams were the last Formula 1 outfit to fully unveil their 2024 car, waiting until just a day before the start of pre-season testing, when the car had its first shakedown.

READ MORE: F1 Schedule 2024: Full calendar with all you need to know about every grand prix

Although testing has seen great reliability from all teams up and down the grid, the Grove-based squad have arguably had the most reliability problems, perhaps due to the late launch of the full car design.

Despite this, expectations are high having made great progress in 2023, and the team know that they will need to continue their march up the constructors' standings if they have any chance of keeping hold of star driver Alex Albon.

F1 Twitter reacts to Williams parting ways with tradition

Now, Williams have taken to X (formerly known as Twitter) to show off their new steering wheel design, which represents somewhat of a change from previous years.

Goodbye chassis-mounted dash, you were a real one ? pic.twitter.com/wBZqZccIgg

— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) February 23, 2024

Introducing our brand new steering wheel for the 2024 season and beyond! ? pic.twitter.com/AI0EdgjK1L

— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) February 23, 2024

Fans were dismayed to find out that the chassis-mounted dash screen design had been abandoned, with Williams being the last team on the grid to still have this design in 2023.

Some were suggesting that the originality of Williams' car had now been lost, with others simply reminiscing on F1 days gone by.

End of an Era, 2014-2023

— Sir Honse (@Poochihead) February 23, 2024

Why!?it was damn cool and different

— Vic (@vic_cupra) February 23, 2024

? thanks for keeping it alive for so long ?

— S • ✰✰✰ (@StormyMv33) February 23, 2024

sent it to a lovely farm upstate where all the other millennial steering wheels frolic in the fields of F1's past

— claire angelique (@claireangelique) February 23, 2024

It’s not to late to #bringBackTheOldSteeringWheel

— A Moose (@amoose4you) February 23, 2024

That's the end of an era... Things have changed a great deal.

— LukasLE (@zwamnieklak) February 23, 2024

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Sam Cook - Digital Journalist

Sam Cook is a talented young sports journalist and social media professional who now specialises in Formula 1, having previously worked as a football journalist and a local news reporter for a variety of different brands.

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