Williams Racing Cars

Williams FW16

Adrian Newey's third Williams car, the Williams FW16 was used by Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell and David Coulthard to compete in the 1994 Formula 1 Championship. Similar in appearance to the FW15C, the main visual difference being the team's title sponsor - a new deal with Rothmans resulting in a complete change of livery for the first time in a decade.

16

1

7

1994

Debut

6

Poles

8

Fastest Laps

118

Total Points

Once again, Damon Hill would drive the number 0 car, as the previous season’s World Champion decided to leave the sport, and he was joined by three-times World Drivers Champion Ayrton Senna in his first year with the Williams team.

The key difference between the FW15C and the FW16 was the removal of many of the driver aids that electronically assisted the car in cornering, accelerating and braking quicker and better. This initially had a severe detrimental effect on handling, to the point where the car would suffer from both understeer and oversteer over the course of a single lap, largely due to the aerodynamics being designed for use with active suspension, and the car now with conventional suspension.

Senna commented that he hadn’t driven a single lap in the car where he felt confident or comfortable.

Both drivers struggled in the season’s opening Grands Prix with a solitary podium between them in the opening two races.

In the San Marino Grand Prix, in one of the blackest weekends for the sport, Williams’ lead driver Ayrton Senna was fatally injured after losing control of the car at high speed going into the Tamburello corner and making heavy contact with the retaining wall.

Following Imola the car was continually modified with a longer wheelbase, extra aerodynamic devices and shortened sidepods. This rectified many of the FW16’s inherent problems to the extent that Damon Hill was able to gain ground on World Champion elect Michael Schumacher, only losing out on the World Drivers Championship to a dastardly and desperate move by the about-to-retire Schumacher in the last Grand Prix of the year in Adelaide which ended Damon’s race and title aspirations in one cowardly swipe.

The World Constructors Championship was won with the help of cameos in the number 2 car by Nigel Mansell and David Coulthard, but it was scant consolation for car and a season that promised so much.

Williams FW16 Specs

Designed by:Patrick Head & Adrian Newey
Year(s) active:1994
Official entrant:Rothmans Williams Renault
Drivers:Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, David Coulthard
Engine:Renault normally aspirated 3.5 litre V10
Tyres:Goodyear2
Fuel:Elf
Brakes:AP/Carbon Industries
Transmission:Williams transverse 6-speed semi-automatic
Preceded by:Williams FW15
Succeeded by:Williams FW17

Williams FW16 Results

1994

BRA PAC SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR EUR JPN AUS
HILL 2 DNF 6 DNF 2 2 8 2 2 DNF
SENNA DNF DNF DNF
COULTHARD DNF 5 5 DNF DNF 4 6 2
MANSELL DNF DNF 4

1994

BRA PAC SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR EUR JPN AUS
HILL 2 DNF 6 DNF 2 2 8 2 2 DNF
SENNA DNF DNF DNF
COULTHARD DNF 5 5 DNF DNF 4 6 2
MANSELL DNF DNF 4
Categories: Cars

1 Comment

Effie Shimada · July 16, 2018 at 7:27 am

This is a impressive story. Thanks!

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Renault normally aspirated 3.5 litre V10
Tyres