FW36

Wide spread regulations changes for the 2014 Formula One season, with the introduction of new hybrid 1.6 litre turbo charged V6 power units, presented Williams with an ideal opportunity to improve its competitiveness on the race track compared to 2013. The decision to partner with Mercedes Benz as the teams new power unit supplier in a long term deal proved pivotal, and the well powered FW36 showed strong early promise at the start of the season.

A mixture of bad luck on the race track and difficulties in wet conditions hindered the team’s ability to maximise its points haul in the first half of the 2014 season. But this was to change in the second half of the season as Williams out developed its rivals to emerge as the main challenger to eventual Championship winners Mercedes. The team picked up its first podium since 2012 at the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix, and this was to lead to another eight podium finishes to eventually claim third in the Constructors Championship.

Season Highlight

The team registered their first front-row lock out since the German Grand Prix in 2003. Valtteri went on to finish third and in doing so achieved his first podium in Formula One, it was the start of a resurgent 2014 campaign.

Fun Fact

Williams scored 66 points in the final round of the 2014 season in Abu Dhabi, the most points scored by a team at a single Grand Prix.