The Williams FW36 is a Formula One racing car designed by Williams Grand Prix Engineering to compete in the 2014 Formula One season.[6] It was driven by Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, who replaced the departing Pastor Maldonado.[5]
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Williams | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Pat Symonds (Chief Technical Officer) Ed Wood (Chief Designer) Jason Somerville (Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | Williams FW35 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Williams FW37 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Monocoque construction laminated from carbon epoxy and honeycomb | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone, push-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone, pull-rod activated springs and anti-roll bar | ||||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes PU106A Hybrid Turbo[2] 1.6 L (98 cu in) V6 (90°), 15,000 RPM limited , in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout | ||||||||||
| Electric motor | Mercedes PU106A Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Kinetic (MGU-K) Mercedes PU106A Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Heat (MGU-H) | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Williams eight forward speeds and one reverse, seamless sequential shift semi-automatic gearbox, with gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated | ||||||||||
| Weight | 691 kg (1,523.4 lb) (with driver) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Petronas[3] | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet) | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Williams Martini Racing[4] | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 19.  Felipe Massa[5]77.  Valtteri Bottas[5] | ||||||||||
| Debut | 2014 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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Background and design
editThe FW36 was the first car built by Williams to use a Mercedes engine,[7] a 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged unit, known as the PU106A Hybrid.[2]
A computer-generated rendering of the car was released on 23 January, showing an extended nosecone dubbed the "anteater".[8]
The FW36 was the first turbo powered Formula One car designed and raced by Williams since the Honda powered FW11B which carried Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell to first and second places respectively in the 1987 World Championship.
Competition history
editThe car immediately proved to be more competitive than its predecessor, consistently setting the quickest times in preseason testing. It was particularly fast in a straight line, thanks in part to the Mercedes power unit and in part to its low-drag design. At the first race in Australia, the car proved to be unstable in mixed conditions, but both drivers made it into Q3. In the race, Massa was taken out at the first turn but Bottas finished sixth – later promoted to fifth – despite a grid penalty and clipping the wall and cutting a tyre ten laps in.
Following a string of bad luck (particularly affecting Massa), the cars became more competitive after Canada, and especially in Austria, where they took a surprise 1–2 in qualifying with Massa on pole. This upturn in performance continued with Bottas finishing third in Austria, Belgium and Russia and second in Great Britain and Germany, Massa taking third in Italy and Brazil and both drivers scoring Williams's first double podium since the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. The team scored 320 constructors' points in 2014, compared to 5 in 2013, this secured them 3rd in the Constructors' Championship, 104 points ahead of Ferrari. The car was arguably the second fastest on the grid towards the end of the season as shown by the 2-3 in Abu Dhabi by Massa and Bottas respectively.
Sponsorship and livery
editThe car sported the Martini Racing livery after securing title sponsorship from Martini & Rossi. It became the first Formula One car to wear this livery since the Lotus 80 in 1979. However, alcohol laws meant Williams could not use their red Martini stripes in Abu Dhabi, instead using a blue livery.
Aftermath
editIn September 2020, before the start of the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, Claire Williams was given a signed front wing from the car as a souvenir from her Williams colleagues.[9] The front wing was signed by everyone who worked at Williams.
Complete Formula One results
edit(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Pts | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Williams Martini Racing | Mercedes PU106A Hybrid | P | AUS | MAL | BHR | CHN | ESP | MON | CAN | AUT | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | RUS | USA | BRA | ABU‡ | 320 | 3rd | |
| Felipe Massa | Ret | 7 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 12† | 4 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Valtteri Bottas | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | Ret | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
† — Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed greater than 90% of the race distance.
‡ — Teams and drivers scored double points at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
References
edit- ^ "Williams FW36". Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Mercedes names 2014 F1 V6 Engine 'PU106A Hybrid'". This Is F1. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ Smith, Luke (20 June 2014). "The Mercedes Formula: What has powered the Silver Arrows' success in 2014?". MotorSportsTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
Force India and Williams also use Petronas, and are therefore at an advantage.
- ^ "Williams Formula 1 team unveils its Martini livery". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
- ^ a b c "The Williams F1 Team announces its 2014 driver line-up". WilliamsF1.com. Williams F1 Team. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "@WilliamsF1Team". Twitter. Twitter, Inc. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ "The Williams F1 Team and Mercedes-Benz announce long-term engine partnership". WilliamsF1.com. Williams F1 Team. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ Collantine, Keith (23 January 2014). "First image of Williams FW36 reveals 'anteater' nose". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ "Claire Williams gifted nose and front wing assembly from 2014 car as family bows out of F1 | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.