10 Of The Coolest Cars Of All Time Formula One
Williams FW15C
When it raced: 1993
In some respects, the 1993 Williams challenger remains the most sophisticated F1 car of all time thanks to antilock brakes, traction control, and a form of active suspension that literally raised and lowered the car to affect aerodynamic drag. It was good enough that Ayrton Senna begged for a chance to drive it, even for for free. Instead, his arch rival Alain Prost won his fourth and final championship in this car.
The Williams FW15C was a Renault-powered Formula One car designed by Adrian Newey and built by Williams Grand Prix Engineering. It was raced by Alain Prost and Damon Hill during the 1993 Formula One season.
As the car that won both the drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in the last season before the FIA banned electronic driver aids, the FW15C has a decent claim to be the most technologically sophisticated Formula One car of all time, incorporating anti-lock brakes, traction control and active suspension.
Building on the hugely successful FW14B which took Nigel Mansell and Williams to both titles in 1992, the car was the first all-new car to be produced by Patrick Head and Adrian Newey in collaboration. With Newey’s input aerodynamically the FW15 was a significant improvement on its predecessor, with a narrower nose, sleeker airbox and engine cover and carefully sculpted sidepods. Another new feature was the larger rear wing used at high-downforce circuits which featured an extra element ahead and above the main wing.
The car was available in August 1992, but given the success and improved reliability of the FW14B, prudence dictated that the new car did not make its debut until the following year’s season-opener in South Africa. As a result of the huge difference in build of their two drivers, Williams eventually opted to build two slightly different FW15C tubs, so as to accommodate Hill’s size 12 feet, as he had repeatedly complained of cramp in the tight confines around the pedals. The FW15C had 12% better aerodynamics, and an engine with 30 additional horsepower than the FW14B, yet was shod on the narrower Goodyear tyres than the FW14B.