Williams FW21

The Williams FW21 was the car the Williams Formula One team used to compete in the 1999 Formula One season. It was driven by Ralf Schumacher, who had swapped from Jordan with Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and Alessandro Zanardi who had last raced in Formula One in 1994, but had since won the CART championship twice.

Williams FW21
Alex Zanardi driving the FW21 at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorWilliams
Designer(s)Patrick Head (Technical Director)
Gavin Fisher (Chief Designer)
Brian O'Roake (Chief Composites Engineer)
Mark Tatham (Chief Mechanical Engineer)
Geoff Willis (Head of Aerodynamics)
Jason Somerville (Principal Aerodynamicist)
Nick Alcock (Principal Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorWilliams FW20
SuccessorWilliams FW22
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)Williams double wishbone, pushrod
Suspension (rear)Williams double wishbone, pushrod
EngineSupertec (Renault RS9) FB01 3.0-litre V10 (71°) naturally aspirated mid-engined
TransmissionWilliams 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Power780 hp @ 15,800 rpm[1]
FuelPetrobras
LubricantsCastrol
TyresBridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrantsWinfield Williams
Notable drivers5. Italy Alessandro Zanardi
6. Germany Ralf Schumacher
Debut1999 Australian Grand Prix
Last event1999 Japanese Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
160301
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Design

Livery

This was Williams' second and final season to use Winfield sponsorship, before switching to Compaq for 2000. Williams used 'Winfield' logos, except at the French and British Grands Prix.

Engine

This was also the team's last season using a Renault engine (badged as a customer Supertec) until one was fitted in the race winning FW34 in 2012; with a new works deal with BMW being activated for the 2000 season.[2] [3]

Season summary

Although Schumacher had a successful season and was a consistent front-runner with the all-new design of the FW21, Zanardi struggled all season with the handling characteristics of the then-recently introduced grooved tyres and failed to score a point. He was dropped at the end of the year in favour of Formula Three driver Jenson Button.

The team eventually finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship, with 35 points, all scored by Schumacher and thus Williams ended up with their worst season since 1990.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in italic indicate fastest laps)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1999 Williams Supertec FB01 V10 B AUS BRA SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA EUR MAL JPN 35 5th
Alessandro Zanardi Ret Ret 11† 8 Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret Ret 8 7 Ret 10 Ret
Ralf Schumacher 3 4 Ret Ret 5 4 4 3 Ret 4 9 5 2 4 Ret 5

References
  • AUTOCOURSE 1999-2000, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1999) ISBN 1-874557-34-9
Specific
  1. "Engine Supertec • STATS F1".
  2. Beer, Matt (4 July 2011). "Williams to run Renault engines again from 2012". autosport.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  3. Weaver, Paul (13 May 2012). "Pastor Maldonado ends Williams' drought with Spanish Grand Prix win". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2017.

Media related to Williams FW21 at Wikimedia Commons


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