The COAT - Round One - Williams FW18 vs Red Bull RB7

[crmalcolm]

Getting towards the end of Round One, and for the thirty-first match we have the Williams FW18 vs the Red Bull RB7.

Williams FW18 (wi77iams.com):
An evolution of the Williams FW17, the Adrian Newey designed FW18 again set the benchmark in aerodynamic design. Coupled with the Renault V10 engine and Indycar Champion Jacques Villeneuve to partner the, by then, seasoned campaigner Damon Hill it looked once again that the Williams FW18 was the class of the field. Williams set out on the 1996 campaign to right the wrongs of 1995.

An evolution of the previous season’s car that performed so admirably, the main visual difference between the Williams FW17 and the FW18 were the mandatory safety elements introduced by the FIA for 1996. Higher head protection on either side of the cockpit and a lower seating position for the driver resulting in the top of his helmet being less pronounced from the cockpit and less vulnerable to any lateral or frontal impact.

Schumacher moved from Benetton to Ferrari in the close season, and in the other direction went both Alesi and Berger. The outgoing Coulthard had found himself at McLaren, who were at the start of their Mercedes journey, but it would be a couple of years yet before they hit their stride.

Damon Hill‘s driving was developing and his smooth, almost effortless style suited the FW18 well.

The season began well with a 1-2 finish in Australia, Villeneuve almost pipping Hill to the win on his Formula 1 debut.

The season continued in that vein, the Williams drivers sharing the spoils in 12 out of the 16 races, comfortably securing the World Constructors Championship.

The drivers title went right down to the wire, Hill pipping Villeneuve at the last round with a win when his young teammate failed to finish.

Sadly for Damon it was deemed not enough for a contract for 1997 and for the third time in five years a Williams World Champion would move on from the team at the end of his championship year.

Red Bull RB7 (planetf1.com):
The RB7 took Sebastian Vettel to his second consecutive Drivers’ Championship, becoming the youngest double champ in F1 history. The car won 12 of the 19 races that season, and claimed all bar one pole position during the campaign. Between Vettel and Mark Webber, the 19 races saw 27 podium finishes for Red Bull.

The 2011 season was also the first to see the introduction of the Drag Reduction System, meaning Red Bull had to bring in the “rear wing flap” while designing the car as well. The team finished with 650 points in the teams’ standings, more than 150 ahead of McLaren, while Vettel was a record 122 points clear in the Drivers’ Championship.

[Adam43]

Newey or Newey.

[chillibowl]

Was this Newey's last Williams or had they put him out for gardening already?

[crmalcolm]

In the battle of the Newey's - I would personally opt for the Williams if it came down to it. For the reason that both cars were dominant in the WCC - but the Williams delivered results for both drivers in the team more consistently.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

Was this Newey's last Williams or had they put him out for gardening already?

Newey was Chief Designer for the successor (FW19) for a period before his departure, with the work being taken over by Geoff Willis.

[S griffin]

I think the RB7, a car that was a step ahead of the rest, even if it wasn’t a big step and it seemed to suit Vettel. Although the FW19 was also probably a step ahead of the rest. I’ll give it more thought before voting

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Newey was Chief Designer for the successor (FW19) for a period before his departure, with the work being taken over by Geoff Willis.

if memory serves, he sat out most of 96 and was at Mclaren by 97. he may just be listed as the chief designer because the subsequent cars were just modified FW17s and a legal requirement of being put on gardening leave?

would be curious to know to what extent Newey himself considers the FW18 and 19 'his' cars.

neither here nor there for this though as i took the RB7 anyways!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

would be curious to know to what extent Newey himself considers the FW18 and 19 'his' cars.

That would definitely be an interesting outcome from an interview if he has ever been asked?

What evidence exists?
grandprix247.com - Aerodynamic specialist Newey, who has since built championship winning cars for McLaren and Red Bull, left Williams in 1997 – the year Jacques Villeneuve won the Grove based team’s last title.
f1technical.net - When Williams unveiled their FW19, it was clear that this was the last of its cars to enjoy the design input of Adrian Newey. Newey effectively stopped development on the car in November 1996 as he was under legal dispute with his team. After having designed all cars since the FW14, the Englishman tried to get out of his contract - that ran up until 1999 - and instead accept an appealing offer made by McLaren. As of that moment, Patrick Head has been in charge of the design group with Geoff Willis acting as chief aerodynamicist and Gavin Fisher as senior designer.
goodwood.com - [the FW19] was both the last Williams chassis to receive input from designer Adrian Newey, who absconded to McLaren during the ‘97 season
racecar-engineering.com - Before Newey left Williams he had penned a new car for the team, the Williams FW19, though he had no hand in its development.

Not that it really matters, but I think the weight of evidence suggests the FW18 was fully a Newey car, and the FW19 was a Newey design. It is probably most clearly referenced in this article from the unveiling of the FW19 in 1996:
JACQUES JUST WANTS TO HAVE FUN AT WILLIAMS UNVEILING
Whilst Adrian Newey former aerodynamicist with Williams and designer of the car, was absent and glaringly unmentioned, technical director Patrick Head enthused about the new model.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

if memory serves, he sat out most of 96 and was at Mclaren by 97. he may just be listed as the chief designer because the subsequent cars were just modified FW17s and a legal requirement of being put on gardening leave?

would be curious to know to what extent Newey himself considers the FW18 and 19 'his' cars.

neither here nor there for this though as i took the RB7 anyways!

As crmalcolm’s post which gives more details says, it was after 1996. It was said that one of the contributing factors was Williams letting Damon go.

[chillibowl]

Yes indeed. Newey left Williams much later then i had thought.

[S griffin]

Ok, after much thought I'm going with the FW18