Articles tagged Williams

Page 66 of December 2018 archive issue thumbnail

Page 66, December 2018

F1 driver... for a day

Senna began his 1983 British F3 campaign with nine straight victories. F1 powerhouse Williams soon invited him to test an FW08C and Motor Sport completes the trilogy by testing one of those, too Fast-forward to Tuesday, July 19, 1983. Just eight months after his debut F3 win at Thruxton at the previous season’s conclusion, Ayrton Senna is at Donington Park for his first taste of a Formula 1 car....

Page 61 of August 1986 archive issue thumbnail

Page 61, August 1986

1986 British Grand Prix race report - In the garden of England

At Brands Hatch, the Williams team gave a demonstration of dominance and quality. Both cars started from the front row and, apart from the first two laps, occupied the leading positions throughout, not even losing the lead during pitstops. Given another lap or so, Mansell and Piquet would have lapped third place man, Alain Prost, for a second time and Prost was in no trouble, he was a full lap...

Page 28 of August 1983 archive issue thumbnail

Page 28, August 1983

1983 British Grand Prix - Rather dull

The last Formula One race was on June 12th, a gap of five weeks in mid-season being an eternity for the enthusiast to wait, but for the teams, it was a welcome break to get stuck in and catch up on the build and design programmes. Patrick Tambay leads in his Ferrari at the start of the 1983 British Grand Prix. Photo: Motorsport Images Apart from continual tyre-testing sessions, new cars were...

Page 57 of September 1983 archive issue thumbnail

Page 57, September 1983

Grand Prix Feature: Jacques Laffite

Two recent stories give an accurate indication of Jacques Laffite's true character. Over the years, Williams team de-briefing sessions have gained a reputation for being notoriously serious affairs in which outbursts of irreverent humour are few and far between. One incident in particular, however, stands out in the minds of various team members. At an early season test session the jaunty Laffite...

Page 37 of September 2011 archive issue thumbnail

Page 37, September 2011

Six-Wheel Appeal

PATRICK HEAD - RACING LIFE VERY ENJOYABLE DAYS AT THE GOODWOOD FESTIVAL of Speed prompted me to think of our six-wheeler, the FW08D, which Jonathan Palmer drove up the hill in 1994, I believe achieving the fastest time in that year. The thinking behind the car was entirely logical as we worked to keep up with the turbo-powered cars of Renault. Ferrari and the BMW-engined Brabhams, but had no...

Page 24 of August 1989 archive issue thumbnail

Page 24, August 1989

1989 British Grand Prix race report - The price of progress

Ayrton Senna must be wondering who he’s offended these days. Since Phoenix, nothing has gone right for him. In Canada, the engine blew a big hole in itself with mere laps to run. In France, the differential broke at the restart. And in England, it was the new transverse gearbox –and perhaps a touch too much brio –which proved his downfall. Worse, from his point of view, Alain Prost took yet...

Page 56 of August 1988 archive issue thumbnail

Page 56, August 1988

1988 British Grand Prix race report - Hero time

The whole weekend, and in fact the whole British Grand Prix affair, was full of disappointments punctuated by flashes of joy. Ayrton Senna leading the British Grand Prix in the McLaren MP4/4. Photo: Motorsport Images Through the first seven races of the Formula One season, fluctuating from extremes of heat and cold, confusion and muddle, good circuits and bad, there were those among us who...

Page 57 of August 1987 archive issue thumbnail

Page 57, August 1987

1987 British Grand Prix race report - Sunrise over Silverstone

On Sunday, July 12 the sun rose over the Silverstone circuit with promise of a remarkable day, even though there were those who murmured "too bright, too early; not a good sign". We had survived two days of practice and qualifying for the Grand Prix, together with practice for the numerous supporting races, and some of the supporting races themselves. Nigel Mansell chases down Williams...

Page 21 of September 1985 archive issue thumbnail

Page 21, September 1985

1985 British Grand Prix race report - A bit farcical

The whole affair started off badly when the Friday morning practice session was delayed by the most appalling weather. It wasn't that nobody wanted to go out in the rain, but international rules state clearly that official practice cannot start until full medical services are ready and waiting, and these include a rescue helicopter. Ayrton Senna leads the British Grand Prix in his Lotus 97T. ...