Williams FW36
Felipe Massa at the 2014 Chinese Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorWilliams
Designer(s)Pat Symonds (Chief Technical Officer)
Ed Wood (Chief Designer)
Jason Somerville (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorWilliams FW35
SuccessorWilliams FW37
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisMonocoque 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
EngineMercedes 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 motorMercedes PU106A Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Kinetic (MGU-K)
Mercedes PU106A Hybrid Motor Generator Unit–Heat (MGU-H)
TransmissionWilliams eight forward speeds and one reverse, seamless sequential shift semi-automatic gearbox, with gear selection electro-hydraulically actuated
Weight691 kg (1,523.4 lb) (with driver)
FuelPetronas[3]
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
Competition history
Notable entrantsWilliams Martini Racing[4]
Notable drivers19. Brazil Felipe Massa[5]
77. Finland Valtteri Bottas[5]
Debut2014 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
190912

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]

Background and design

The 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 team competed under the name "Williams Martini Racing" after securing title sponsorship from the Martini & Rossi distillery, making the FW36 the first Formula One car to compete in Martini Racing colours since 1979.[4]

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

The 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.

Aftermath

In 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.

Felipe Massa following Valtteri Bottas at the 2014 British Grand Prix

Complete Formula One results

(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

  1. ^ "Williams FW36". Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Mercedes names 2014 F1 V6 Engine 'PU106A Hybrid'". This Is F1. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "Williams Formula 1 team unveils its Martini livery". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "@WilliamsF1Team". Twitter. Twitter, Inc. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Collantine, Keith (23 January 2014). "First image of Williams FW36 reveals 'anteater' nose". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  9. ^ "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.
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