The true resurgence of Williams Grand Prix Engineering took place in 1978. After parting ways with Walter Wolf in 1976, Frank Williams and Patrick Head restarted in 1977 by entering a modified March 761 in the championship, with Head himself making the modifications.
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| WILLIAMS FW06, Alan Jones Long Beach, USA West GP 1978 |
In 1978, thanks to sponsorship from Fly-Saudia, the team returned to constructing its own car: the FW06. Head opted for a simple and reliable car, drawing inspiration from the March 761 while improving its weak points. The design process also involved Neil Oatley, a future successful engineer at McLaren, where he would work alongside John Barnard and Gordon Murray on the victorious MP4 series.
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| WILLIAMS FW06, Alan Jones Hockenheimring, German GP 1978 |
Due to limited resources, the team used proven components: the Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 engine, the Hewland FGA gearbox, and double-wishbone suspension. For cooling, they even employed standard Volkswagen radiators. Despite lacking ground effect, the FW06 proved to be well-balanced and easy to set up.
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| WILLIAMS FW06, Alan Jones Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1978 |
The car’s aesthetics followed the design trends of mid-1970s single-seaters, featuring a front radiator integrated into the nose and narrow side pods, which, however, prevented effective ground effect aerodynamics. Alan Jones, the team’s sole driver, expressed satisfaction with the car’s performance.
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| WILLIAMS FW06, Alan Jones Paul Ricard, French GP 1978 |
The Australian driver secured multiple points finishes, highlighted by a second-place finish at the United States Grand Prix East at Watkins Glen. With 11 points, Williams finished the season in ninth place in the constructors' standings, the team’s best result up to that point and a sign of its growing competitiveness for the future.
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