Williams FW21

Williams FW21

Alex Zanardi driving the FW21 at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Williams
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)
Predecessor	Williams FW20
Successor	Williams FW22
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)	Williams double wishbone, pushrod
Suspension (rear)	Williams double wishbone, pushrod
Engine	Renault RS9 (branded as Supertec) FB01 3.0-litre V10 (71°) naturally aspirated mid-engined
Transmission	Williams 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Power	780 hp @ 15,800 rpm
Fuel	Petrobras
Lubricants	Castrol
Tyres	Bridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrants	Winfield Williams
Notable drivers	5. Alessandro Zanardi 6. Ralf Schumacher
Debut	1999 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	1999 Japanese Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 16 0 3 0 1
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Williams FW21 was the car with which the Williams team competed in the 1999 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by German Ralf Schumacher, who had swapped from Jordan with compatriot Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and Italian Alessandro Zanardi, who had last raced in Formula One in 1994 but had since won the CART championship twice.

Design

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 for the 2000 season.

Season summary

Schumacher at the Canadian Grand Prix

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.

Livery

This was the second and final year for Williams had a sponsorship deal with a cigarette brand Winfield as the team's main sponsor. Williams used 'Winfield' logos, except at the French and British Grands Prix, where it was replaced with "WilliamsF1". In Canada, the kangaroo emblem was replaced with a boomerang-styled emblem. In French, Veltins logo was replaced with "Veltins alkoholfrei" but it was covered up by a barcode for scale models and video games.

FW21B

A "B" spec car was used for testing the BMW V10 engine for their return in 2000 season. Later, the car were run on Michelin tyres, testing them in preparation for their return in the 2001 season.

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

Notes:

• † – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified, as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.

References

• AUTOCOURSE 1999-2000, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1999) ISBN 1-874557-34-9

Specific

External links

Media related to Williams FW21 at Wikimedia Commons