10 things you'll find at a Formula 1 team's factory

With all the state-of-the-art technology in modern Formula One, it might seem strange that the teams always talk about the work back at their factory.

Although they come in many shapes and sizes, mentioning a factory to those outside the sport won't trigger thoughts of a multipurpose campus bursting with unique bleeding-edge equipment sitting amongst icons of a glorious past.

Yet that's what you'll find at the Williams Racing factory. Our headquarters in Grove, Oxfordshire, has so much inside, and we're giving you a sneak peek at 10 of them below.

There was only one way to learn a race track and hone a car's setup when Sir Frank Williams first started making cars — by physically visiting the circuit.

Today, driving simulators are ubiquitous across motorsport, from F1 to junior categories.

Computers changed many things at Williams Racing for our engineering and manufacturing teams, but the drivers have also benefitted from the technical advancements.

Often shortened to the 'sim', this is more than a computer with a keyboard and mouse input, instead utilising a modified version of our monocoque for drivers to sit in and virtually drive laser-scanned circuits.

With such strictly limited today, the sim is vital to familiarise a driver with a track ahead of a race weekend.

Strategists and engineers will also pour over all the collected data to help predict tyre usage and setup improvements.

Manufacturing is possibly what most fans think of whenever someone mentions an F1 factory. This is the heart of our car creation.

Filled with bespoke machinery to create and improve parts, the manufacturing and development departments fill warehouse-sized rooms with equipment for making just two cars.

These areas in our Grove HQ running 24/7 so we can keep pushing at the development pace needed for F1's relentless race to be the best.

You'll only find peace here during the mandatory summer and winter shutdown periods when all 10 teams must cease any car-building activity.

Physical fitness has become the foundation for greatness in F1 for our drivers and the wider team.

We ensure everyone at Williams Racing can stay in the best possible shape thanks to our on-site gym packed with Life Fitness equipment.

Weights, cardio, exercise classes and everything else you'd find at a top-tier gym are all available for Williams Racing employees.

Spread over multiple rooms and with enough equipment for a small army, there's no need for a gym membership anywhere else for our Grove team.

Perhaps the closest any fan can get to being like their Williams Racing heroes in the cockpit is to race in our expertly kitted-out Esports lounge.

Available for public bookings, the 20 seats here have industry-leading hardware for head-to-head racing on multiple games and simulation software.

Designed to create a fun but competitive atmosphere, everything in our Esports lounge will cater to your inner racer to let you enjoy F1 thrills from a virtual cockpit.

Even those who don't want to get behind the wheel can enjoy the fun with a theatre and lounge area showing all the on-track action of those digitally doing battle.

Adjacent to the Esports Lounge is access to our museum and the long history of Williams Racing.

We might be a little biased, but the curated display is something to behold and is still one of the largest privately owned F1 cars anywhere on the planet.

There are classic liveries, race-winning icons, and dominant World Constructors Championship machines all on display to see up close.

No matter when your interest in F1 or Williams Racing began, the collection here isn't like anything you'll find elsewhere.

We can't talk about the incredible cars of our past without mentioning the pilots who drove them and the trophies they brought home.

Our F1 history continues to grow, but we always honour the past by proudly displaying the silverware we've won.

The variety of trophy styles and sizes from our many decades of success is fascinating to see in person and is a physical representation of our almost 50-year-long existence.

There's even a colourful collection of helmets from the many drivers who have sat in a Williams Racing cockpit all on display. See how many you can recognise!

All the simulation data from our CAD creations and the technical knowledge from our expert design team face the ultimate test at the wind tunnel.

As the name suggests, the wind tunnel is a facility that artificially creates the force of wind to simulate the airflow our cars face when driving at high speeds.

It's here where the design team find the real-world characteristics of our cars' aerodynamics without having to take to the track.

With downforce being such a critical part of all modern F1 design, ensuring the aero works as expected in the wind tunnel plays a vital role in car design.

With such a rich history of racing pedigree, there's little wonder why the Williams Racing family also has a heritage team.

Making sure that our much-loved vehicles of the past continue to wow fans today, the team here are responsible for our cars of seasons gone by.

Events featuring iconic Williams Racing creations from our past rely on the engineering and mechanical expertise of the heritage personnel.

Be it privately owned by a collector or in-house, any historic car from the growing Williams Racing fleet falls under their jurisdiction.

Their dedication keeps each car running for whatever future showcase or event they may feature.

Although the jet set Formula One life might seem a world away from that of many people, the Grove headquarters is still a normal place of work for hundreds.

And as with many office blocks around the world, the manager's office exists as a place of planning and leadership.

We suspect he may be happier sitting at the pit wall and being close to the high-speed racing, but you'll usually find James Vowles in his Grove office to manage the team outside of a Grand Prix.

When he's not giving his verdict or keeping an eye on weekend operations, it's here that James will often be having calls, hosting meetings, and sending emails that shape Williams Racing's future.

It's within these walls where Sir Frank Williams once led the way, and his racing spirit and hunger for success very much continue inside the room today.

You might find wind tunnels, sims, and other items on this list in some shape or form at other teams.

What you won't find elsewhere is our rather unusual hedge design that sits just outside the entrance to the Williams Racing Experience Centre.

Depicting a Formula One car undergoing a pit stop, complete with a pit crew and even a front jack, this unique landmark at our headquarters is always worth stopping for a selfie at.