Hosta

by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back

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.

Design

Jacques Villeneuve driving the FW20 at the 1998 Italian Grand Prix

The team was 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. Newey had departed at the end of 1996, but his input had gone into the FW19 for 1997, so the FW20 was the first Williams car since 1990 that did not directly bear his design, although it cosmetically resembled the FW19.[2] The car was equipped with a Mecachrome-badged version of what was essentially the previous year's engine. Also gone was the highly distinctive blue and white Rothmans livery, as the company had decided to promote its Winfield brand.[3]

At the car's launch, Patrick Head and Geoff Willis admitted that the FW20 was a fairly conservative design but stressed that they were still hopeful of being competitive.[4]

Season summary

1998 was very disappointing compared to the previous championship-winning campaign. The team endured their first winless season since 1988 and finished a distant third in the Constructors' Championship, with three podiums and no wins, a long way behind McLaren and Ferrari.[5]

Villeneuve was unhappy with the season and had no chance to defend his title. He signed with the new British American Racing team for 1999, and Frentzen departed to Jordan after two seasons spent largely in the shadow of his teammate.[6]

Williams used 'Winfield' logos, except at the French, British and German Grands Prix.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1998 Williams Mecachrome V10 G AUS BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA LUX JPN 38 3rd
Jacques Villeneuve 5 7 Ret 4 6 5 10 4 7 6 3 3 Ret Ret 8 6
Heinz-Harald Frentzen 3 5 9 5 8 Ret Ret 15† Ret Ret 9 5 4 7 5 5

References

  • AUTOCOURSE 1998-99, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1998) ISBN 1-874557-43-8
  1. ^ "Engine Mecachrome". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. ^ Nugroho, Aditya (12 May 2017). "Disastrous Defense – 1998 Williams FW20 Mecachrome". DriveTribe. Retrieved 30 January 2020.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Rothmans To Discontinue Sponsorship to Williams Formula One Team". www.sportcal.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Williams FW20". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Beginning of the end- Williams FW20 #blogpost". Car Throttle. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  6. ^ "The Revolving Door of Williams". atlasf1.autosport.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.

External links

Media related to Williams FW20 at Wikimedia Commons


Categories
Table of Contents