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Williams FW20
Formula One racing car From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Williams FW20 was the car with which the Williams Formula One team competed in the 1998 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by Jacques Villeneuve, the reigning champion, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was in his second year with the team.
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Design
Ahead of the season, Williams were adversely affected by the departure of Chief Designer Adrian Newey to McLaren, and Renault's withdrawal from F1 as an engine supplier. Newey and Renault had made Williams the dominant team of the early and mid-1990s. Whilst Newey had departed at the end of the 1996 season, he had directly contributed to the championship winning FW19. This made the FW20 the first non-Newey designed car since 1990. Cosmetically the FW20 resembled the FW19 with journalist Joe Saward noting the FW20 followed the same basic design concept as the FW19 with adaptations made to comply with 1998 regulations.[2][3] The car was equipped with a Mecachrome-badged version of what was essentially the previous year's Renault engine.
In a departure from previous seasons, the white and blue Williams livery was replaced by red car. This was due to main sponsor Rothmans opting to use the space to promote sister brand Winfield.[4][5]
At the car's launch in January, Patrick Head and Geoff Willis admitted that the FW20 was a fairly conservative design but stressed that they were still hopeful of being competitive.[2][6]
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Season summary
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Williams began testing the FW20 ahead of the launch in January 1998, utilising parts from the new car and the previous season's FW19. A key change between seasons was the introduction of grooved tyres, although Williams remained with supplier Goodyear.[7] At the opening round in Melbourne, Frentzen finished third albeit a lap down on the leading two McLarens.[8] Overall however, this would be one of the few highlights of the FW20 during 1998.
Villenueve struggled to defend his title with the non-competitive FW20. He scored points at nine Grands Prix with season-high third place finishes at the German Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix. During practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, he lost control of his car in Eau Rouge corner and crashed backwards into the barrier at approximately 170 mph (270 km/h). Villeneuve was unhurt.[9] With 21 points, he finished fifth in the Drivers' Championship.[10]
For Frentzen, the opening round podium would be his season highlight, scoring points only on six further occasions with a high of fourth place in Belgium. The German driver suffered five consecutive DNFs including collisions both in Monaco with Eddie Irvine at Lowes hairpin, and at Canada where a clash with Michael Schumacher saw him spin and retire.[11][12]
1998 was Williams' first season without a win since 1988 and they would finish a distant third behind McLaren and Ferrari in the constructors championship.[13][14][15] At the end of the season, Villeneuve and Frentzen would depart for British American Racing and Jordan Grand Prix respectively.[16]
At the end of the season, Williams new 1999 drivers Ralf Schumacher and Alex Zanardi tested the FW20 at Barcelona, with Schumacher scoring table topping times.[17] The FW20 would also be tested by Juan Pablo Montoya, Tommi Mäkinen and Mick Doohan.[18]
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Sponsorship and livery
Williams used 'Winfield' logos, except at the French, British and German Grands Prix, it was replaced with a Winfield kangaroo emblem and a leaping kangaroo. In French, Veltins logo was completely removed.
The Universal Studios and Woody Woodpecker logos was featured on the nose cone in certain Grands Prix. At the Australian Grand Prix, the team promoted the film, Blues Brothers 2000, also featured on the nose cone.
Later use
On December 1999, an FW20 was painted in white livery, fitted with a BMW V10 engine and ran on Bridgestone tyres. The car was test driven by Jörg Müller.
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)
References
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External links
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