Alain Prost, already certain of clinching his fourth world championship title, announced his definitive retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the 1993 season during the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend. This opened the door for Ayrton Senna to join the dominant team of recent seasons, Williams-Renault. British driver Damon Hill was confirmed as the second driver and, once again, used the number 0 on his car, as the number 1 was reserved for the reigning World Champion. However, in 1994, for the second consecutive year, the titleholder retired from the top category after winning the championship, leaving the prestigious number 1 vacant. The regulatory changes for 1994 required the Williams engineers to use the excellent FW15C as the basis for the new car, though stripped of all electronic aids, in compliance with the new rules. The result was the new FW16, designed by Adrian Newey with the assistance of aerodynamic engineer Eghbal Hamidy, under the technical direction of Patrick Head.
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| WILLIAMS FW16, Damon Hill Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP 1994 |
The car retained the excellent Renault V10 engine, now at the RS6 specification and capable of 830 hp, developed by Bernard Dudot, who joined the British team as chief engine engineer. Alongside the new white and blue livery of tobacco sponsor Rothmans, replacing the familiar yellow of recent years, the new car featured shorter, higher sidepods, and a lower engine cover thanks to the more forward-mounted engine. Due to the reintroduction of in-race refueling, the FW16 was equipped with a smaller fuel tank, which allowed for this engine repositioning, theoretically improving weight distribution. However, the elimination of electronic aids hit Williams particularly hard, as they had previously benefitted the most from such systems. The car’s handling and setup difficulties were especially highlighted by Senna, who after initial preseason testing described the new car as difficult and dangerous due to its unpredictable rear-end behavior.
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| WILLIAMS FW16, Ayrton Senna Interlagos,Brazilian GP 1994 |
One of the FW16's distinctive features was the V-shaped lower rear wing. The chassis was essentially the same as that of the FW15C, a car designed with advanced integrated electronics, which the new car completely lacked. Despite a new double-wishbone rear suspension, Newey himself admitted the car suffered from balance issues caused by two years of electronic suspension systems that had allowed the car to maintain a neutral setup in all conditions, eliminating traditional pitch and roll. The frequent spins by Hill and Senna in the first two races confirmed these problems. Williams arrived back in Europe with just six points and Senna yet to score. The issue was traced to the front wing, which was too sensitive to ride height changes. It was partially resolved by the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, through revisions to the front end, raising the wing, modifying the suspension arms, and adjusting the steering column angle.
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| WILLIAMS FW16, David Coulthard Montréal, Canadian GP 1994 |
Ironically, it was at Imola that Ayrton Senna suffered a fatal crash, allegedly due to a failure of the steering column. His death had a profound impact not only on Williams but on the entire Formula 1 world. While Williams prepared to replace Senna with test driver David Coulthard and, occasionally, veteran Nigel Mansell, the FIA moved to address the safety shortcomings of cars now lacking electronic aids by imposing new restrictions. The changes made to the FW16 after Imola restored the car’s competitiveness. Following a retirement in Monaco, Hill returned to victory in Spain, reentering the title fight. The “B” version of the FW16 debuted at the German Grand Prix, featuring taller and shorter sidepods, a longer wheelbase, and most importantly, a completely redesigned rear end built specifically for mechanical suspension, replacing the unstable and overly sensitive rear of the original FW16.
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| WILLIAMS FW16, Nigel Mansell Suzuka, Japanese GP 1994 |
With this version, Hill secured four more wins and fought Michael Schumacher for the championship, ultimately losing by a single point in the final race. The second car, driven first by Coulthard and later by Mansell in the final three races, earned one victory (Mansell's last in Formula 1) and one second-place finish, along with several points finishes, helping Williams secure its seventh Constructors’ Championship title with 118 points. At the end of the year, on December 20–22, 1994, a FW16 “C” version equipped with the new 2998 cc Renault RS7 V10 engine, conforming to the new technical regulations for 1995, was tested at the Paul Ricard Circuit in Le Castellet by Damon Hill, Jean-Christophe Boullion, and Emmanuel Collard. This car would form the basis for the new FW17.
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