Williams FW18
This was the car with which Frank Williams’s team contested the 1996 Formula One World Championship. Designed by Adrian Newey and Patrick Head, it is regarded as one of the most successful Formula One cars ever built. Powered by a 3-litre Renault V10, it was largely derived from the previous year’s FW17 but introduced several new driver-protection features mandated by the FIA.
The lower cockpit allowed the drivers to sit deeper within the chassis, lowering the car’s centre of gravity and improving handling. Newey’s refined aerodynamics delivered performance clearly superior to that of Benetton and Ferrari, Williams’s main rivals for the world title.
In 1996, David Coulthard left Williams after three seasons to join McLaren. The Grove-based team placed its full trust in Damon Hill—by now an experienced and mature driver—and partnered him with Canadian rookie Jacques Villeneuve, the reigning CART champion and son of the much-missed Gilles.
Drivers:
Damon Hill: The son of the 1962 and 1968 World Champion went on to claim the title himself after a season-long duel with his teammate. Damon won six of the first nine races, building a strong early lead. Yet the championship would be decided—in his favour—only at the final round in Suzuka, by which time Frank Williams had already announced that Damon’s contract would not be renewed for the following season.
Nigel Mansell: In his Formula One debut season, Jacques impressed both fans and insiders by nearly winning the opening race, the Australian Grand Prix. Over the year, he took four victories, six pole positions, and a string of podium finishes, pushing teammate Damon Hill all the way to the final round in Japan. Although he narrowly missed out on the title, he finished as runner-up—delivering one of the most remarkable rookie campaigns in Formula One history. One year later, he would become World Champion himself.
Our model cars:
Williams retained Rothmans as its title sponsor for a third consecutive season, keeping the blue-and-white livery with its distinctive gold and red stripes running along the bodywork. The Rothmans logo appeared everywhere except at the European, French, British, and German Grands Prix, where it was replaced by the word “Racing” or by a barcode design featuring a tricolour box evoking the brand’s identity.
The FW18 dominated the season with staggering numbers: 12 wins from 16 Grands Prix, 12 pole positions, and 11 fastest laps. Hill and Villeneuve consistently locked out the front rows of the grid and ended the championship first and second overall. With a total of 175 points, the FW18 secured the Constructors’ World Championship title.
