In the 1991 season, with the FW14, Williams showcased the full potential of the brilliant design conceived by the ingenious mind of Adrian Newey, a young engineer who had joined Sir Frank Williams' team in 1990. It was only the lack of reliability of the innovative single-seater that prevented Williams from claiming titles in '91. Therefore, starting from the 1992 season, Frank Williams entrusted Newey with complete control of the team's technical department, supported by Paddy Lowe for electronics and Eghbal Hamidy for aerodynamics, all under the general direction of Patrick Head. Meanwhile, Bernard Dudot, head of development for Renault’s French V10 engine, also joined the team. At Grove, they did not rest on their laurels and, after designing the most sophisticated and effective car of the 1991 season, they further improved it, giving birth to its evolution, the Williams FW14B of 1992.
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| WILLIAMS FW14B, Riccardo Patrese Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1992 |
The new car was once again entrusted to the same drivers from the previous season: British driver Nigel Mansell and Italian driver Riccardo Patrese. Renault supplied the British team with the latest evolution of its engine, the RS4 V10 with 3493 cc and a 67° bank angle. This new French power unit, in addition to being lighter than its predecessor, was capable of delivering an incredible 760 hp, which could be effectively transmitted to the ground thanks to a sophisticated electronic suspension system. The enhanced engine performance allowed Newey to design a chassis that retained the aerodynamic lines of the previous FW14 but combined a stiffer, more compact, and efficient frame with cutting-edge electronic solutions.
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| WILLIAMS FW14B, Nigel Mansell Interlagos, Brazilian GP 1992 |
At first glance, the aerodynamic appearance of the FW14B revealed few differences from the 1991 car, with the main visible change being the upper part of the nose, slightly longer than before, where a pair of bulges above the damper pushrods housed the active suspension technology. The side pods remained long and tapered at the rear to form the classic "bottle-neck" profile. However, the major innovations were hidden beneath the bodywork, with highly sophisticated electronics. In addition to the semi-automatic gearbox already present on the 1991 FW14, which had shown some teething problems in the early races, the car now featured innovative driver aids such as traction control and, in some races, ABS. The real “jewel” of the FW14B, however, was the active suspension system developed by Adrian Newey and Paddy Lowe, a system that detected all car movements during roll and pitch, consisting of two front springs and one rear spring with hydraulic actuators that adjusted the car’s ride height, keeping it constant across different track sections and optimizing grip in all situations.
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| WILLIAMS FW14B, Nigel Mansell Imola, San Marino GP 1992 |
The biggest advantage of Williams' active suspension was evident in the early laps on cold tires, when Newey’s new creation allowed the Williams drivers to maintain a race pace up to two seconds faster per lap than their closest competitors. This forward-thinking single-seater was so far ahead of its rivals that it earned the nickname “the car from another planet.” The FW14B’s performance was stunning, even over a single lap, it was unbeatable, claiming pole position in 15 out of 16 races. In the first 12 races of the championship, Nigel Mansell won 8 times and finished second 3 times, retiring only once in Canada while leading the race. After securing the championship, he added another victory late in the season and claimed the title with 108 points, finishing first or second every time he saw the checkered flag.
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| WILLIAMS FW14B, Riccardo Patrese Imola, San Marino GP 1992 |
His teammate Riccardo Patrese, an old-school driver, struggled to adapt to the new suspension system but still managed to collect 56 points, placing second in the championship with 1 win, 6 second-place finishes, and 2 third-place finishes. Unsurprisingly, the constructors’ title was easily secured by the Williams-Renault team with 164 points, 65 more than McLaren, which finished second.
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