 David Coulthard's Williams FW17 on display at the Williams Museum | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Williams(chassis, transmission) Renault Sport(engine) | ||||||||||
| Designers | Patrick Head(Technical Director) Adrian Newey(Chief Designer) Eghbal Hamidy(Chief Aerodynamicist) Bernard Dudot(Chief Engine Designer (Renault)) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | FW16 | ||||||||||
| Successor | FW18 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1][2] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibre andKevlarmonocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | pushrod, bellcrank, torsion spring | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | pushrod, bellcrank, torsion spring | ||||||||||
| Engine | Renault RS7, 2,992 cc (182.6 cu in),V10 (67°)NAmid-engine,longitudinally-mounted | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Williams transverse 6-speedsemi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Power | 675–700 bhp (503–522 kW; 684–710 PS) @ 15,200-15,600 rpm[3] | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Elf | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | RothmansWilliamsRenault | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 5. Damon Hill6. David Coulthard | ||||||||||
| Debut | 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| First win | 1995 Argentine Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last win | 1995 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 1995 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
TheWilliams FW17 is aFormula One racing car designed byAdrian Newey, with which theWilliams team competed in the1995 Formula One World Championship. It was driven byDamon Hill, who was in his third year with the team, andDavid Coulthard, who was in his first full season after a part-time role in1994.
With what was regarded as the best chassis and aerodynamics in the field combined with the best engine,[4] the 1995 season was disappointing for the team, who were beaten to both titles byMichael Schumacher andBenetton. Although the FW17 was superior in qualifying trim, taking 12pole positions, Schumacher was usually more competitive on race day. The Benetton team arguably made better strategy decisions during races and Schumacher was able to win nine races against Hill and Coulthard's combined total of five. The reliability of the FW17 was also inferior to the Benetton's, with mechanical issues costing Hill victories inBrazil andGermany when comfortably leading both races as well as podium finishes inSpain andCanada. Coulthard also suffered mechanical failures which afflicted the Scotsman whilst leading inArgentina,Belgium andItaly, whilst further podium finishes were lost in Spain andMonaco. Despite the setbacks, Hill fought Schumacher for the title for the second year in a row, taking wins inArgentina,San Marino,Hungary andAustralia. However, Hill's title challenge was blunted after being involved in high profile collisions with Schumacher whilst both were battling over the lead inBritain and second place inItaly as theirrivalry intensified across the season. Meanwhile, Coulthard took his first and only victory forWilliams inPortugal to keep the team in title contention. Unfortunately, both drivers went on to make several unforced errors across the second half of the season which saw Schumacher and Benetton wrap up both titles during theJapanese double-header.
For qualifying at thePortuguese Grand Prix, theWilliams FW17B was debuted, although not used for the race itself.[5] In the final four races of the season, the FW17B took three pole positions and one victory, but the titles were already just about out of reach due to the success of Schumacher and hisBenetton B195.
The team eventually finished second in the Constructors' Championship, with 112 points; both Williams and Benetton had their constructor's points deducted from the Brazilian Grand Prix (6 and 10 points respectively) following an appeal that saw both teams' fuel-related disqualifications overturned from race standings.
The FW17 is notable for being the first Williams car to race with a raised nose, and was the first 'clean sheet' design from the team since 1991 (as the car's two predecessors had been evolutions of the FW14), owing to the new technical regulations for the 1995 season.
During an interview withTop Gear in 2012, Coulthard spoke positively about the FW17, saying that it was his favourite out of the cars he had driven in his career.[6]
.jpg)
For a second year, Williams had a title sponsorship deal withRothmans. Williams used Rothmans logos, except at theFrench,British,German andEuropean Grands Prix where it was replaced with 'Racing' or a barcode with a tricoloured rectangle that associated with the brand. At the French Grand Prix, the Black Tower logo was removed.
As a tribute toAyrton Senna, who was tragically killed the previous season, the Senna 'S' logo was presented on the front wing.
(key) (results inbold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pts. | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | RothmansWilliamsRenault | Renault RS7 V10 | G | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | PAC | JPN | AUS | 112 | 2nd | ||
| FW17 | Damon Hill | Ret | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | Ret | 2 | Ret | Ret | 1 | 2 | Ret | 3 | ||||||||||
| FW17B | Ret | 3 | Ret | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| FW17 | David Coulthard | 2^ | Ret | 4 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | Ret | Ret | 1 | ||||||||||
| FW17B | 3 | 2 | Ret | Ret |
^ – Coulthard's second place at the Brazilian Grand Prix did not count towards Constructors' Championship points as the FIA did not reinstate the constructor's points after the initial disqualification due to fuel irregularities was overturned.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Autosport Racing Car Of The Year 1995 | Succeeded by |
