1991 WILLIAMS UNVEIL FW14 RENAULT V10 (THE GREATEST CAR OF ALL TIME)

The Williams FW14 was an F1 car designed by Patrick Head and Adrian Newey for the 1991 and 1992 F1 seasons. The car was born out of necessity, as the 1989 and 1990 seasons had proven competitive for Williams, but they had underachieved in their own and Renault's eyes. Newey started work on the new car soon after joining the team from March in mid-1990. He had designed a series of aerodynamically efficient and very effective cars for March on a limited budget, so with Williams' greater resources and money he was able to fully develop his ideas. The design showed enough promise to tempt Nigel Mansell to shelve his plans to retire from the sport and rejoin Williams from Ferrari. Powered by a 3.5 litre V10 Renault engine, the car was the most technically sophisticated on the grid, featuring a semi automatic gearbox, active suspension, traction control and for a brief period anti-lock brakes. Add to that the superb aerodynamics by Newey that was way ahead of the McLaren MP4/6, Ferrari 643 or Lotus 107, and it made for a potent mix, although at the beginning the disbelievers said the car was too technical for its own good.

[@Just_lift_anyone]

Mansell was class, he wouldn't look out of place in a Spitfire would he ?

[@DaveJamesOnair]

Fabulous engine sound. Those were the days.

[@marcelost12]

Nice car better than nowadays cars

[@mattfry3851]

God compare mansell with Hamilton in the opening to this video. Imagine him turning up in a flat cap on a dank day and making a quip like that. Different times

[@GregzVR]

Matt Fry - Funny that you mention Hamilton, as Mansell, Montoya and Lewis are my three favourite F1 drivers in those individual eras. Very similar inside the car, all completely different out of it.

[@Holanduzo]

Mansell is a guy you could have a fun afternoon with a couple of pints, Lewis... he would complaint because tires are gone.

[@PoisonousPen]

I posted this same comment a year ago, but please upload the whole Mansell and Williams 1991 video that this is from. It's so fantastic and brings back a lot of good memories.

[@squarewheelsorguk]

+1

[@Fmontes]

For me, the following year's car - the 14B - with its active suspension was the greatest F1 car of all time.

[@theant9821]

in my opinion the fw14b is my favourite f1 car that wasn't a lotus (type 49c, 72, 79, 97, 98, 99)

[@paulconnelly4050]

Agreed

[@armorgeddon]

FW15C was even more advanced so I believe it's just Mansell's success with the FW14B that so many people name that model as their favorite.

[@stewartgrindlay9760]

Don’t forget FW14B wasn’t an original active car. It was an add on. FW 15C was an active car from the start. The 14B was gorgeous looking though.

[@weallfollowmanutd]

@@armorgeddon it was more advanced but the fw14b had the biggest time gap between the other cars. This is why I think it was the best of all time.

[@EleanorPeterson]

I love that sound and what it represented: performance first, sod the bloody environment. This is F1. 😁

[@ElectoneGuy]

This car would have won the championship if not for the reliability issues early in the season. Riccardo Patrese actually preferred this car to the next year's 'B' spec active suspension vehicle.

[@flipsidedogchop]

a prelude to my favorite F1 year..... senna mansell prost piquet shumacher hakkinen patrese alesi & berger good days.

[@fdwal76]

How i miss that 1991 season ( mansell /senna/ prost / schumacher / piquet and hakkinen ) the greatest f1 season of all time !!!!

[@FrontSideBus]

What a sound!

[@F-Man]

Awesome rare footage of the shakedown of one of the best racing cars of all time!

[@Morg4nn]

The V10 like a lion

[@lukas_jay243]

For some reason, I always remember this car having the white engine cover for the first few races. Thought the paint asymmetrics was kinda cool.

[@edwardwong654]

Sirs Nigel and Frank!

[@flipsidedogchop]

Chapman's Lotus 72 is a contender. 2 Drivers (70 & 72) & 3 Constructors (70, 72 & 73) with 20 wins over a lifespan of 5 years. It changed the shape of F1 cars by putting the radiators in sidepods, inboard brakes & a few other innovations.

[@johnmurray7419]

Mansell just oozed cool and calm!

[@paolomolinari335]

I'm more fond of this one in particular, the flat FW14... He should have won the 1991 Championship too... Brazil Canada Portugal to name a few, such bad luck...

[@jrp312]

Spa too

[@squarewheelsorguk]

I'd always wondered exactly where this film was shot from. Now I've worked it out. They were using the South Circuit, which used Hanger Straight, Stowe, Vale, Club, and then turned right at Abbey along the short straight seen (with the car approaching head-on in this film), then running through a double chicane before rejoining the GP circuit part-way through the Becketts complex. See here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_history_of_Silverstone_Circuit#/media/File:Silverstone_Circuit_1991_to_1993.png The ad-hoc 'pits' in this film were located on the disused runway (that ran from Copse to Stowe), immediately north of the South Circuit. The whole area of the short straight, the chicane, and the 'pits', has since disappeared beneath Farm/Village/Loop on the revised GP circuit. Even the metal water-tower seen in the background, which appears to be in the farmyard, seems to have been removed before 2005.

[@weallfollowmanutd]

The following seasons car was the best of all time in terms of gap to the other teams.

[@flipsidedogchop]

Well, the FW14 was run in every race during 1991 without it. The FW15 was due to be released in 1992, but the tried & tested FW14 chassis was used instead.

[@Holanduzo]

They didnt need to release the fw15 in 92 because the fw14B was so superior than the rest of the field

[@sebgamer2079]

Nostalgia!

[@ukks63]

Nigel Mansell is the first man won F1 race with sem-automatic gear box in 1989 Brazil, despite booked fright way back home at 4:00pm!! hahaha!!

[@PoisonousPen]

This is from Mansell and Williams 1991 isn't it? Any chance you could upload the whole thing please? :)

[@pablofangio4916]

one of the best cars of the F1

[@flipsidedogchop]

The FW14 made its debut at Pheonix USA GP 1991, thats true. But it 100% DID NOT have re-active suspension until 1992 began.

[@danigonzalez4299]

@@shalansharma443 TC was implemented when they implemented the active suspension. So no the 91 car did not had that. Nor abs.

[@qinq2020]

@@danigonzalez4299 one can also realize it didn't have TC by listening to the engine sound on decelerations and exit of the corners in this shakedown. As it was wet, the TC would work a lot doing that carachteristic sound, but it didn't.

[@DaveDoc1984]

This is from Mansell & Williams 1991 :)

[@F-Man]

I've often seen drivers do this but I've never known why. So, Why does he keep revving the engine after he's either cut the clutch in or selected neutral as he's coming back to the pits? Is it to keep the oil pressure up or something like that?

[@jrp312]

Because the engine won’t idle well, as it’s designed to run at high speed. I saw a video on the Leyton House from 1990 and that said V8s (so not this car) were also prone to torsional vibration if kept at a certain rev frequency

[@pretsas]

Anyone know why the airbox didn't have Camel livery until Imola?

[@danigonzalez4299]

Yes. Firstly Camel only sponsored partially the team. Later on the year they closed a deal to be title sponsor so this is why the engine cover went yellow.

[@armorgeddon]

No, I'm 99% percent sure that Camel never became title sponsor. In my memory it was always Canon Williams until Canon left the team. But still the the change to more Camel colors from Imola onwards will just've been a commercial rearrangement for whatever reason. Maybe they had a totally different company scheduled to go onto the airbox but the deal failed.

[@Holanduzo]

@@armorgeddon thats true, it was the Canon Williams Renault, and the reason was simple: more yellow suited best the paint scheme.

[@lukas_jay243]

The livery looks odd and unbalanced, but I kinda like it 😂

[@liamjames9]

in the end of the video they said for the first time all points scored will count toward the championship, I didn't watch f1 back then so how was the points system done before?

[@smith2781]

lol i have a simular problem, the end of '90 and the '91 season are my first detailed memroy of watching F1. As far as i can gather ( from watching old F1 programmes and races ) before the 1991 season only the best 11 results counted. I think the reason for this was because some of the smaller teams only used to do the European races and also they had pre-qualifing so the grids weren't too big and the cars weren't dangerously slow. So to give these teams more of a chance they done the championship points that way.

[@davidhodder9939]

If it wasent for the gearbox issues at the begining of 91 mansell could of took two back to back titles

[@roywhiteo5]

nigel has 3 mouostaches!

[@Rentta]

Well there was yeah, but none of the fw14 versions were designetd to run without active suspension.

[@DaveDoc1984]

This particular FW14 (which I think is the A Revision from 1991) had nothing but Gearbox problems. Had it not been for that he would have challenged Ayrton Senna much more than he did.

[@danigonzalez4299]

Indeed Dave

[@jammy_rex3038]

This was a brand new car for 1991. It was quick and had raw pace, but really took them until Monaco (round 4) to get going with this car, until then they only had one race finish due to that semi-automatic gearbox's unreliability. Once it became reliable, it flew. And formed the basis for the following year's dominant FW14B. Mansell really got into his stride mid-season and reeled off several victories. But, McLaren and Honda were still developing through the year, and Honda's constant updating of their V12 pushed them ahead in the power stakes and Senna was able to fight from the front again. A great season indeed. Fabulous cars and drivers back then.

[@F1Acervo]

The best car of all time is MP4/4

[@kers80bhp]

the lotus 79 (mario andretti) wasnt a bad a car either

[@flipsidedogchop]

I determine "best car" as most important & fast....So u'd have to pick either the Lotus 25, 72 or 79.

[@jofumen6708]

RENAULT SPORT💖💖👏👏

[@flipsidedogchop]

The best car of all time is the Lotus 72 Not many cars can win races over 5 years

[@vinrusso821]

Williams in the mid-90's were so far ahead Technology wise. Semi- automatic gearbox, a better traction control. But the active ride suspension, is what really made a difference. Over a second a lap faster than Mclaren every year.

[@barrierodliffe4155]

+vin russo In 1991 the McLaren was more reliable. 1992 the Willaims was better. By 1993 the tyres were smaller and downforce was less, also the McLaren had semi automatic gearbox, active suspension and traction control. The Williams had the Renault engine which gave more power but apart from that it was no more advanced than the McLaren.

[@Rottensteam]

Ferrari had a semi automatic since 1989.

[@vinrusso821]

No Mclaren did not ever have active ride. It was outlawed.

[@Rottensteam]

vin russo The McLaren MP4/8 from 1993 had active suspension and traction control. It was first from 1994 that it got banned.

[@armorgeddon]

Even MP4/7 ran occasionally with active suspension in testing and official practice sessions later in the season. They decided however to not run it when it counted ever.

[@to11775]

the winningest car is the mp4/4, the fw14 is the greatest

[@nedmurry7283]

Nigel Mansell 1st driver to conquer F1 and Indy

[@kers80bhp]

Emerson fittipaldi and mario andretti also won both championships, however mansell actually held both championships at the same time for 7 days as he won the Indycars while he was still champion in f1 as it took prost another week to win 1993 f1 champ

[@hismindovermatter]

You people are ALL wrong. The best car of all time is the MP4/2 - TWO contructors championships, THREE drivers championships and TWENTY-TWO race wins!

[@muddwell]

why didnt anyone tell Nigel he was wearing a beret ?

[@SE-42]

put its engine in a street car and it would be the greatest car of all time

[@nfsrival1499]

Eirik Salomonsen the street car's chassis would melt in a couple of seconds, the rear axles would snap when you blip the throttle, and you would have to replace the enginge with a new one every 48-72 hours.

[@intheflesh1977]

The FW14 was active already, or not?

[@danigonzalez4299]

Nope

[@jogadorcomum3265]

Ainda falam que Senna sempre ganhou com o melhor carro, esse carro já era melhor que a McLaren de 91.

[@Shogo5000]

1 - Red Bull RB7 (2011) & RB6 (2010) 2 - Williams FW14B (1992) 3 - McLaren MP4/4 (1988)

[@vinrusso821]

You got to be kidding? Your in the wrong era son. This is by far the best car compared to the competition ever. Mansell and ricardo patrase were 1-2 on the grid every race. And usually they lapped the field, expect maybe Senna, but he' been lapped in that car. Back then I remember people saying it;s not the driver anymore just technology. I think Mansell didn't like that and left. Not to mention he don't like Prost.

[@Holanduzo]

@@vinrusso821 Actually active suspension suited best drivers like Mansell, they needed to have big stones to go flat out with cars with active, because they didnt give any information or very few as Patrese stated, he liked more the passive 14 as with the 14b he never felt comfortable with, so an hipothetic 93 season with prost and Mansell, and because the car was designed around Mansell as Frank stated, probably Mansell would have beaten Prost quite "easily".

[@dannymason6384]

Actually it was the fw14b that could be the greatest of all time. Or the mclaren of 88,or the 04 ferrari, or the mercedes w11. Anyone of those will do

[@fabiusbac]

i was watching new f1 and sounds seems like a toy. After i puked i needed to listen a real engine sound look like. now i'm fine again

[@Rentta]

fw14 debuted in 1991 us gp and it had active suspension

[@danigonzalez4299]

Not at all. The Fw14 was a passive car

[@coltino1911]

The greatest is the fw14b

[@No.Handle31]

The FW14 wasn't as great as the FW14 B which had the active suspension.

[@danigonzalez4299]

Neither of them was as good as the Fw15C

[@qinq2020]

and TC

[@gold333]

The greatest F1 car is arguably the 1992 FW14B or the 1993 FW15C because of their electronic driver aids. Not this passive 1991 FW14.

[@callumcc8897]

God 14 years doesn’t take away what a prat you are!! This was the car which started it all

[@Holanduzo]

And reability is what made you not getting the title in 91... shit, you could have won 86, 87, and 91 titles... and if you have stayed at Williams in 93 Im sure you wouldve defeated Prost because to drive that car you needed to have big stones and the car was designed after you.

[@artmchugh5644]

Really ???? Well nigel you have more hair on your eyebrows than I have on my head !!! And I will take that !!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 you can tell I am bald !!!

[@Loose89]

How is it the greatest car of all time when it didn’t win the championship?

[@Sortsylic]

But it was not an ultimate weapon...

[@felipeguedes2468]

Mclaren Mp4/4 sent his regards.

[@f1johnnyf]

for sure this is not the best f1 car not even the best Williams the following year with the fw14b mansell won the champ and the year after that 1993 the fw 15c was the best f1 car of all time

[@danigonzalez4299]

Agreed! The Fw15C was way much better.. Not as dominant due to its drivers tho.

[@Rentta]

There was never passive FW14

[@danigonzalez4299]

Well basically the Fw14 was a passive car every race

[@Richard.Hybels]

Greatest of all time? The MP4-4 won 15 races in one year.

[@rossrreyes]

'92 car was much better

[@confdenhaag]

MC LAREM MP4/4 IS THE GREATEST.

[@jeannoel43]

the greatest car of all time,lol. So why dont "she" win instead of mc laren honda driven by senna?

[@Holanduzo]

It was the base for the FW14B, a master weapon.