Williams FW20
 | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Williams | ||||||||
| Designer(s) |  Patrick Head (Technical Director) Gavin Fisher (Chief Designer) Geoff Willis (Chief Aerodynamicist) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | FW19 | ||||||||
| Successor | FW21 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fibre monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Williams torsion bar/double wishbone, pushrod | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Williams coil-spring/double wishbone, pushrod | ||||||||
| Engine | Mecachrome (Renault) GC37/01 V10 (71°) naturally aspirated | ||||||||
| Transmission | Williams 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential | ||||||||
| Fuel | Petrobras | ||||||||
| Lubricants | Castrol | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Winfield Williams | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 1.  Jacques Villeneuve2.  Heinz-Harald Frentzen | ||||||||
| Debut | 1998 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Williams FW20 was the car with which the Williams Formula One team competed in the 1998 Formula One season. It was driven by Jacques Villeneuve, the reigning champion, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was in his second year with the team.
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. 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.
1998 was very disappointing compared to the previous championship-winning campaign. The team finished a distant third in the Constructors' Championship, with three podiums and no wins, a long way behind McLaren and Ferrari.
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 team-mate.
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
External links
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