 The Williams FW38, driven byFelipe Massa, during theMalaysian Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Williams | ||||||||||
| Designers | Pat Symonds(Chief Technical Officer) Ed Wood(Chief Designer) Clive Cooper(Head of Design - Composites and Structures) Christopher Brawn(Head of Design - Suspension, Steering, Breaks) Mark Loasby(Head of Design - Systems) Jakob Andreasen(Chief Performance & Operations Engineer) Jason Somerville(Head of Aerodynamics) David Wheater(Head of Aerodynamic Performance) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | Williams FW37 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Williams FW40 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | carbon-fibre composite and aluminium honeycomb monocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | double wishbones, push-rod actuated springs and dampers, anti-roll bar | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | same as front | ||||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes PU106C Hybrid 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injectionV6 (90º)turbocharged engine, limited to 15,000 rpm in amid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout | ||||||||||
| Electric motor | MERCEDES AMG HPP ERS Mercedes PU106C HybridMotor Generator Unit–Kinetic (MGU-K) Mercedes PU106C HybridMotor Generator Unit–Heat (MGU-H) | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Williams 8-speed sequential semi-automatic Williams paddle-shift 8-speed semi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Battery | Lithium-ion batteries | ||||||||||
| Weight | 1,548 lbs | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Petrobras | ||||||||||
| Brakes | AP Racing ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 6-pot caliper | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero (dry) tyres Pirelli Cinturato (wet) tyres Front:245/660 - 13 / Rear:325/660 - 13 | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Williams Martini Racing | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 19. Felipe Massa77.  Valtteri Bottas | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2016 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
TheWilliams FW38 is aFormula Oneracing car designed byWilliams to compete in the2016 Formula One season. The car was driven byFelipe Massa andValtteri Bottas.
During qualifying for the2016 European Grand Prix, the FW38 set the highest ever recorded speed of a Formula One car during an official session, at 378 km/h (235 mph).[2]
During the2016 Mexican Grand Prix, the FW38 set the second highest ever recorded speed of a Formula One car during a race, at 372.5 km/h (231.5 mph).[3]
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The car proved to be competitive in the early stages of the championship, with Massa and Bottas securing points finishes for the first half of the season. However, lack of upgrades on the car meant that the team could not keep up with other teams during the later stages, such asFerrari,Force India, andRed Bull Racing, and eventually lost 4th place in the constructors' championship to Force India.
On 17 May, two days after theSpanish Grand Prix, Williams tested a radical new rear wing design with a winglets on the side; similar to the cars from 1983-1984. The car was test driven byAlex Lynn.
For the third year, Williams continued to use theMartini livery of their title sponsor. Alcohol laws meant Williams could not use their red Martini stripes in Abu Dhabi, instead using a blue livery.
At theBrazilian Grand Prix, Massa's car had his name placed on the engine cover and rear wing in place of the Martini logos.
(key) (results inbold indicate pole position; results initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | Grands Prix | Points | WCC | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | BHR | CHN | RUS | ESP | MON | CAN | EUR | AUT | GBR | HUN | GER | BEL | ITA | SIN | MAL | JPN | USA | MEX | BRA | ABU | |||||||
| 2016 | Williams Martini Racing | Mercedes PU106C Hybrid | P | Felipe Massa | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10 | Ret | 10 | 20† | 11 | 18 | Ret | 10 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 9 | Ret | 9 | 138 | 5th |
| Valtteri Bottas | 8 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | Ret | 5 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 11 | Ret | ||||||
† Driver failed to finish the race but was classified as they had completed greater than 90% of the race distance.
