Williams, noble decadence F1 – Formula 1

Williams is not even 40 years old and has not won the World Cup in over three decades. Despite this, the British team after Ferrari, the most successful of F1: thanks to nine constructors' titles and seven driver's championships won in just two decades. Let's discover together the history of this team, a noble decline in anticipation of better days.

Williams: history

History Williams in F1 starts in the late sixties when Frank Williamsalready the owner of a minor category team, he decides to try his hand at the top division, but without taking on the responsibility directly as a manufacturer. In 1969 he bought Brabham, in 1970 drives single-seater cars. de Tomaso and in the 1971 season he was March.

1972 is the year the sponsor appeared. politoys (which even puts his name on a car competing in the British Grand Prix), while in 1973 and 1974 his single cars were called Iso Marlboroughas two main sponsors.

Debut as a producer and first catwalk

La Williams officially debuts as a constructor in Formula 1 in 1975 with the French. Jacques Laffitte (which even ranks second in Germany) and our Arturo Merzario... The following year, despite the purchase of the team by the Canadian billionaire Walter Wolf, does not even score a point and the best result is the Belgian's 7th place. Jackie X.

Farewell and return

Frank leaves the team he founded and in 1977 creates another team that is exclusively engaged in the management of one-seater cars. March... The return to Circus as a full-fledged manufacturer dates back to 1978 with a car designed Patrick Head, generous sponsors from Saudi Arabia and one pilot - Australian Alan Jones - which ranks second in the US.

First win

1979 season brings first successes Williams: The one-seater ground-effect car, inspired by the Lotus World Champion a year earlier, comes second in the Constructors' Championship. Swiss Clay Regazzoni gets the first victory in team history in the UK, and Jones climbs to the top of the podium four times (Germany, Austria, Holland and Canada).

First World Championship

The first world championship dates back to 1980: Jones becomes the world racing champion with five victories (Argentina, France, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States), and the constructors' title is also linked to the Argentine's success. Carlos Reitemann in Monte Carlo. The next year comes another Marche title with four successes: two by Jones (US West and Las Vegas) and two by Reutemann (Brazil and Belgium).

In 1982, it was the turn of the second world championship among pilots: it was won by a Finn. Keke Rosberg, for which only one victory is needed (in the Swiss Grand Prix, held on the French track Dijon) to dominate your opponents.

Moving from Ford to Honda

La Williams he manages to win the Grand Prix in 1983 (Rosberg in Monte Carlo), and in the same year he abandons supercharged Ford engines to switch to turbocharged engines. Honda... Thanks to this unity, some successes have been achieved (Rosberg in Dallas 1984 and Australia 1985. Nigel Mansell in Europe and South Africa in 1985), but zero titles.

Drama and success

1986 was one of the most significant years in the history of the British team: in March, owner Frank was paralyzed in a car accident in St. Nice and is confined to a wheelchair. Despite his temporary absence from the races, his team still manages to take home the World Constructors' Championship: thanks to Mansell (five wins in Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain and Portugal) and the Brazilian footballer. Nelson Piquet (four wins in Brazil, Germany, Hungary and Italy).

The latter received the pilot's title in 1987, having climbed to the top step of the podium three times (Germany, Hungary and Italy). Opponent Munsell wins six times (San Marino, France, Great Britain, Austria, Spain and Mexico), but less consistently: his results allow Williams to obtain a title reserved for producers.

Farewell to Honda and arrival of Renault

In 1988, the British team found themselves without Honda engines and faced a period of crisis that lasted until the late 80s and the beginning of the next decade. On a single car with engines Judd Mansell takes only two second places (Great Britain and Spain).

Situation for Williams improves from next year with engines Renault: Belgian Thierry Butsen three times in two years rises to the top step of the podium (Canada and Australia in 1989 and Hungary in 1990), like our Riccardo Patrese (San Marino 1990, Mexico and Portugal 1991). 1991 is also the year of the comeback Nigel Mansellwho wins five times (France, UK, Germany, Italy and Spain).

Golden years

The nineties are the best period for the British team: in 1992, Mansell became the world champion with nine victories in a year (South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, San Marino, France, Great Britain, Germany and Portugal) and with the support of Patrese (the first in Japan) also received the title of "Constructors".

Staple for Williams repeated in 1993: French Alain Prost prevails among the riders (seven victories: South Africa, San Marino, Spain, Canada, France, Great Britain and Germany), as well as three victories of the British. Damon Hill (Hungary, Belgium and Italy) participate in the championship reserved for Marche.

La tragedia di Senna: the show must go on

Brazilian Ayrton Senna he was hired by Frank for the 1994 season but died at Imola in the third race of the season. Tragedy - a suspension arm piercing the visor of a South American driver's helmet (the car's designer Patrick Head was found guilty in 2007, but the crime has already been assigned) - did not stop the team's winning trail. In the same year, the Constructors' World Championship takes place thanks to Hill's six victories (Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Japan) and Mansell's victory in Australia.

After three years of absolute domination Williams the 1995 season ends without titles: Hill's four wins (Argentina, San Marino, Hungary and Australia) and Britain's David Coulthard's success in Portugal save the day.

The last world championship

The 1996 and 1997 seasons were literally dominated by the "British" team, which won four titles (two drivers and two manufacturers). In the first year, Hill becomes the world champion with eight victories (Australia, Brazil, Argentina, San Marino, Canada, France, Germany and Japan) and the Canadian championship in the same year. Jacques Villeneuve four times climbed to the top step of the podium (Europe, Great Britain, Hungary and Portugal).

In 1997, the situation in Williams Reverse: World champion Villeneuve with seven victories (Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Great Britain, Hungary, Austria and Luxembourg) and a new partner - a German. Heinz-Harald Frentzen – who are satisfied with the success in San Marino.

Farewell to Renault

In 1998, Williams found itself in a crisis when Renault abandoned F1 and starts supplying renamed undeveloped thrusters Mechachrome (first year) e Supertech (Second). The British car came in three third places (two with Villeneuve in Germany and Hungary and one with Frentzen in Australia) in 1998 and second with a German car. Ralf Schumacher in Italy in 1999.

It was a BMW

Thanks to the motors BMW the English team rises again: in 2000, Ralf Schumacher climbed to the podium three times (all third places) (Australia, Belgium and Italy), and in 2001 he wins again. Ralph is dominant in San Marino, Canada, Hungary and Colombia. Juan Pablo Montoya dominates in Italy.

In subsequent years, other successes were achieved: in 2002 in Malaysia, it was Ralph Schumacher's turn, and in 2003 the riders won four steps on the podium. Williams (Montoya in Monte Carlo and Germany and Ralph in Europe and France).

Swan Song dates back to 2004 when Montoya won the last race of the season in Brazil.

Decline

Decline Williams officially begins in 2005, the last year of BMW powertrain production, when the German Nick Heidfeld he must be content with two second places in Monte Carlo and in Europe. With motors Cosworth the situation worsens: the Australian Mark Webber, twice sixth in Bahrain and San Marino.

Arrival of engines Toyota 2007 bodes well, but the only feats come from two-thirds of the places: the Austrian Alexander Wurts in Canada, and next year German Nico Rosberg in Australia.

In 2009, Rosberg is allocated two fourth places in Germany and Hungary, and in 2010 and 2011 it was the Brazilian's turn. Rubens Barrichello show the best behind the wheel of one Williams clearly inferior to competitors, taking fourth place in Europe, and the following year - two ninth in Monte Carlo and Canada.

Lightning Maldonado and the future

The 2012 season of the "British" team is decorated with an unexpected victory for the Venezuelan. Pastor maldonado in Spain, but this is a small stroke of luck, as evidenced by the disappointing results in 2013 (the best place is eighth among Finnish Valtteri Bottas). Next year, the Brazilian will replace the South American driver. Felipe Massa.