In the world of motorsports, certain decisions leave a lasting impression, sometimes forever. Williams’ transition to a red livery in the 90s is one of those bold choices that still sparks debate. A sacrilege or a simple evolution? Let’s dive into the history of an iconic team and its tumultuous relationship with the colors that shaped its identity.
The Iconic Blue and the Rothmans Legacy
The blue, white, and gold of sponsor Rothmans became a strong symbol in the world of motorsport during the 80s and 90s. These colors accompanied the Porsche 956 prototypes in endurance racing, Prodrive’s Subarus in WRC, and even Honda in 500cc. But it was especially in Formula 1 that this color scheme reached its peak, as Williams triumphed with legendary drivers like Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, clinching world titles in 1996 and 1997.
The Controversial Decision of 1998
Following these successes, Rothmans International made the surprising decision to no longer showcase its traditional colors to promote its Australian subsidiary, Winfield. Thus, at the dawn of the 1998 season, the Grove cars abandoned their iconic blue in favor of a red, white, and gold livery. A change that sparked outrage among purists and enthusiasts. Who could have imagined that Williams, a fierce rival of Ferrari, would visually align itself with its competitor?
A Change of Course in a Tense Context
If another team had opted for a red livery, it probably wouldn’t have resonated as much. But in the context of an intense rivalry between Williams and Ferrari the previous year, marked by Michael Schumacher’s controversial maneuver on Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez, the switch to red generated a lot of ink. This change coincided with a difficult period for Williams, which had lost its technical leader Adrian Newey and found itself with a less competitive Mecachrome engine.
Beautiful Cars but Losing Speed
Despite this decline, it would be unfair not to recognize the beauty of the cars from this era. The FW20 of 1998, although needing some adjustments, had a certain charm. The modifications made to the 1999 version, with flashes of gold and blue, as well as a more sculpted design, resulted in a car that was very pleasant to behold. Moreover, the change in Winfield’s font also played a role in the overall aesthetics.
Ralf Schumacher driving the Williams FW21 in 1999.
A Promising Yet Disappointing 1999 Season
In 1999, the FW21 represented a significant advancement, thanks to the efforts of designers Geoff Willis and Gavin Fischer who managed to correct the weaknesses of the previous season. The lower center of gravity was supposed to offer better performance. However, despite some evolutions of the rebranded Supertec engine, it still lacked power compared to the best.
Although Ralf Schumacher managed to score 35 points in his first year with the team, Alex Zanardi did not score a single point, leaving Williams stuck in fifth place in the constructors’ championship. The difficulties faced by the Italian driver were numerous, particularly his inability to manage grooved tires in slow corners.
The Quest for an Unfinished Victory
Ralf Schumacher nearly gave Williams its first victory with this new red livery at the 1999 European Grand Prix, a success that could have changed the perception of this flamboyant outfit. Unfortunately, a puncture dashed his hopes. This moment underscores the reality: a winning car is often considered beautiful. But Williams never managed to showcase its red livery on the top step of the podium.
Nostalgia and Aesthetics: A Retrospective Look
Perhaps it is nostalgia speaking, as the 1999 season was when I discovered Formula 1. Yet, these often-criticized cars deserve recognition for their aesthetic boldness. The Woody Woodpecker on the nose of the car is a fun nod to that time. While defending aesthetics is always a delicate exercise, it would be reductive to consider Williams’ red liveries as horrors.
Of course, the subsequent liveries inspired by the partnership with BMW were more streamlined, but they sometimes lacked the extra soul that characterized the earlier ones. Nevertheless, some BMW liveries were quite successful, like the one worn by the FW20, which stood out with its dark blue enhanced by white stripes.
As a child, this livery fascinated me and symbolized BMW’s return to Formula 1. Then came the disappointment of discovering a much more bland 2000 livery. This disillusionment might explain my attachment to Williams’ red liveries, which remain etched in my memory as a symbol of boldness.
The Williams FW21 with the BMW engine and a temporary livery, in 1999.
