Williams is stepping back in time in a bid to cure the problems with its 2013 car.
Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the British team was already using the floor and exhaust of last year’s car in Barcelona recently.
And on Thursday in Monaco, Pastor Maldonado’s car was fitted with the 2012-spec nose - featuring the old and unseemly ’step’ - and front wing.
However, the Venezuelan will have to revert to the 2013 parts for qualifying and the race, because the old front wing does not pass the more stringent 2013 flexibility tests.
"It’s not going to improve in one day or one week," Valtteri Bottas, when asked about Williams’ problems this season, said on Thursday.
"It will take time," the Finnish rookie is quoted by The National. "I really hope that by the second half of the season, we can get consistently into the top ten.
"That has to be the aim."