THE CAR THAT HAD TUSKS! The Story of the Williams FW26 (2004)

Williams insists it's not radical. But that is one radical design right there. A car that was attracting attention while at the same time becoming a meme for how ugly it was. But I don't think Williams designed it with F1 content creators' feelings in mind nearly 20 years ago.
So why and how did Williams think this would work, and what were the supposed upsides to having a car like this? Let's have ourselves a look.
Enjoy! And remember to like and subscribe for more!
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Pedals: Heusinkveld Sprints

[@AidanMillward]

Japanese GP Sale! Use F130 for 30% OFF this Japanese GP weekend (Exclusions Apply) Link in description.

[@Smakificator]

During 2003, I was an HP Employee. They posted promo materials from Williams F1 team to make sure we all knew how cool they were. In May of 2003, a poster appeared showing the Twin Tusk wing. Most US HP employees would not know what they were being shown. But I sure did. I knew that design was not part of any Williams F1 car up to that point. Sure enough, 9 months later, the rest of the world got to see it for their first time.

[@balljointfd3s]

Besides the Tusks I'll never forget that car because it was the loudest F1 car I've ever heard. People forget how crazy loud those v10's were in person, but that Williams was somehow even LOUDER!

[@rexthewolf3149]

That BMW engine was debatably the most powerful on the grid during that time, it’s just the chassis was not good enough to take full advantage of it.

[@AidanMillward]

@@rexthewolf3149 that or the Mercedes in the McLarens.

[@stuntvist]

@@AidanMillward Definitely the BMW one. They were the first to reach 19k RPM and as long as you can keep torque high enough without it falling off more RPM is all that matters in making more power in a N/A enigne. You can get a bit more air into the engine with intake resonances but all teams were likely doing it to the fullest extent they could anyway. It's truly a shame BMW ended up pulling out of the sport in 09 as they really have a talent for ridiculously powerful engines like no one else. That's the one part of their brand they've yet to tarnish. Also it was easily the best sounding engine ignoring the loudness aspect. Perfectly harmonious high pitched noise like nothing else on the grid. I've always thought that's what Yamaha were thinking of replicating as best as possible when tasked with building the engine for the LFA, but I wasn't involved with the project so I'll never know.

[@jsquared1013]

@@stuntvist Paul Rosche was an engine wizard. I know he retired a few years before that particular engine, but he helped lay the foundations and the people under him who continued no doubt benefited from working with him.

[@sleeming88]

2004 was an odd year for me as an F1 fan. I feel like I remember all of it and yet none of it at the same time 🧐

[@alexlazebat839]

yes the main qualifying was on itv2 sunday morning freeview wasnt widely available then

[@fabiosemino2214]

RIP Antonia Terzi, bless her for the walrus nose though

[@rajjy1976]

I recall reading somewhere that prior to making the switch to a more conventional front nose, a prototype was sent to be tested at Catalunya, but the engineers had left if in a case in the boot of a car, and a passer by thought it was a bomb so called the police who got the bomb disposal team in to detonate this mysterious package. Apparently when Patrick Head was told he went ballistic.

[@alexshank1414]

I love radical ideas like this. William’s Active Suspension, McLaren’s F-Duct and Brake Steer, Renault’s Mass Dampener, Brawn/Honda’s Double Diffuser, Red Bull’s Blown Diffuser. Outward thinking. Not copying whatever is working, though beneficial in the long run of F1. New technologies and innovations is why I love F1.

[@harmkuijpers6642]

The team's chief Aerodynamicist (Antonia Terzi) worked at the faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology after she left Williams (I would know, cause I studied there). She worked on the so called Superbus, an idea of Dutch Astronaut Wubbo Ockels (it looked like a stretched Lambo). Unfortunately, she died in a car accident in 2021. The Superbus was never completed (the idea was worse than it sounded).

[@charamia9402]

I miss those days, the dawn of my love for F1... A young toxic fangirl who were quite content with Schumachers domination aided by inconsistant stewarding and creative interpretation of the rulebook 😅 I absolutely love that McLaren are neck and neck with Ferrari and Williams seems to be on the up and up. Tugs at my nostalgia.

[@mrkipling2201]

I started watching F1 in 1984 and this era of F1, well it feels too modern for my liking!! 😂😂

[@charamia9402]

@@mrkipling2201 Fascinating how what's considered 'the good old days' keep moving forward with each generation 😅 Men my kid's my age, she'll be reminiscing about 'the good old days' when she was a young fangirl and Verstappen got ten in a row only for that pesky Sainz to ruin it 🤣

[@BLKBRDD]

I always thought it looked like sabre teeth. I know it wasn't that successful but it made you go, damn that looks cool

[@filipruml]

"What happened to the tusks" "The front fell off"

[@RapideWombaticus]

I saw this car... it was in a glass case at Mascot (Sydney) Airport. Frankly, it looked awesome. Yes, it didn't work. But at least they gave it a go.

[@beefsuprem0241]

I really miss the noise of the non hybrid era😔

[@aoife1122]

Football, snooker, F1... a man after me own heart. ;) Thank Gawd, the snooker season is now kicking off in earnest, the break was long enough. Roll on, Monday.

[@MrNegativecreep07]

Person from 2004: how can an F1 car be so ugly? Person from 2014: oh just you wait and see.

[@CyanRooper]

Person from the 70s: I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.

[@captainmagenta899]

I would love to see if there's anything you could dig up about Benetton's four-wheel steering experiments in the tail end of the 93 season. I know it never raced and promptly got banned for 94.

[@AeroGuy07]

I've been watching F1 since 91, my older brother got me into it after he got hooked on it while traveling as a sound guy. I've always been a Williams fan. I've got a collection of Oris Williams watches, a hat signed by Montoya(he signed it at the 08 24 Hours of Daytona) and a few other odds and ends. Watching them struggle the last decade or so has been hard, but I have faith.

[@toasty862]

The walrus nose manages to be both "cool" AND "huh?"

[@samuelivascu7633]

Okay I was a kid during the V10 era, so I missed it completely but I know the sound of V10s and that is not one that is a fucking herald of DEATH

[@sleebanger]

the FW26-2 is still my favorite modern f1 car. 980hp by mid season 2004 at 19,500rpm.

[@micodyerski1621]

Those were the best looking Williams' of all time. F1 needed JPM to take it to Schumy🏎 in those days! 🤯

[@Holden308]

The red and white paint scheme after the blue and white of Rothmans was another Pall Mall (BAR) cigarette brand primarily sold in Australia called Winfield.

[@gordonwallin2368]

Sweet vid, again, thanks Aidan. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada

[@nathantuff8814]

Thanks for explaining what the single/twin keel concept means - I remember seeing it in old F1 yearbooks, but never looked into the actual meaning. In retrospect the move to twin keel almost seems like a "well, duh" moment, but hindsight is a wonderful thing! I knew the nose wasn't the magic bullet they hoped, and honestly it's a pity they tried to be clever with it because they clearly had a very good chassis outside that decision.

[@unklesuga1644]

I have a autographed(Montoya) picture of this car. Great video as always!

[@ghostdragon9221]

Almost 20 years, I feel old now. I guess I have to thank you for this....I do, I really do. cheers. Have a great weekend.

[@bakayarou023]

The double tusks have grown on me over the last few years

[@Mrmayhembsc]

I remember this well. My first year watching the sport this and the bar006 are still my fav cars of all time.

[@lukecrowley571]

Thanks!

[@minibus9]

awesome video

[@bmc3663]

One of the gains found that year was actually tying the two ‘keels’ together. A less than ideal solution to stiffen the mounting points for the FLWB forward legs.

[@Porgeot]

Tumbs up, just for the sounds ❤

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

Definitely brought back memories. Looking forward to the 2005 Williams story!

[@kevinprior3549]

A team like Williams with only 1 win in the last 23 years is just appalling. With the history they have too, it ain't good enuf.

[@AidanMillward]

Could be worse. Could be Ferrari with no title in 15 years despite the constant rigging of the sport in its favour.

[@sanfordcurtis8242]

@@kevinprior3549fully agreed. No Title wins since 1997, no win since 2012 and a former team boss who was a staunch Tory 😬

[@ducciocolombi7729]

​@@AidanMillwardI guess you are totally unbiased when you talk about Ferrari in Formula 1 then, I guess?

[@1dree1]

After the Toyota video and specially now: Wouldn't Ralf Schumacher be a fitting driver for the "over- or underrated" section? 97 wasn't bad for his debut season 98 he would have won Spa 99 scoring really often in a mediocre Williams 00 being the force in a better Williams 01 winning three times wasn't all bad after that either, but a not totally up to Montoya from then on (to give a reference point) Certainly not all bad :) I'd even say: when the next race approached you had to have him on the list for victory in 2001 almost constantly no mean feat :) I guess he fulfills the requirements for the "over- or underrated" section

[@ThePapaja1996]

slightly underrated in my point of view.

[@potatogirlcultist19]

Schuamcher's greatest strength after the big shakeup in the rules from 2003 was his one lap qualifying pace. Before, he couldn't touch Montoya over one lap in the 'normal' qualifying sessions, but once 2003 rolled around, he managed to get 4 poles to Montoya's 1 from 2003-04. Also, if you look at some of the onboards from his Williams days, his car control is absolutely insane. There's this video of him absolutely dessimating the variante Alta.

[@nathantuff8814]

I think I remember rightly that Michael and Ralf's mum died before one of his strongest races of that year (I'm thinking Imola...?) which really reinforced his talent and professionalism in my view. He was never on his brother's level but that's hardly a reason to write a driver off.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

@@nathantuff8814 Yup was the 2003 San Marino GP IIRC she died on the day of the race

[@CyanRooper]

IIRC people used to say that Ralf was actually almost as good as Michael but the problem was that he picked the wrong teams and there was only so much he could do with what he was given. I could be wrong since I personally think that Montoya was the better driver and the 2003 championship should have gone to Juan instead of Michael or Kimi.

[@thelonesculler]

Possible correction, didn't Kimi Raikkonen break Montoya's Monza record in 2018 qualifying before Hamilton then did so in 2020?

[@AidanMillward]

Think Bottas had it for a time but Hamilton is the only f1 driver in history so… /s

[@lightfeather9953]

Lame that they do it by using movable aero (Drs which has no reason to exist in qualifying except make the cars break records for marketing purposes) and using out laps to charge the battery. Not really a fair or accurate representation on which year's car or driver was faster.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

@@lightfeather9953 I mean that's the regulations they adhere to at the time, it's like calling the 04 cars unfair because their engines only had to last one race with no fuel flow limit or because they were lighter or they had rubber that actually was pushing the limits of tire developments. each car has its own regulations it must adhere to

[@EmilForsberg_GRYBO]

Yes!

[@CyanRooper]

"Kimi, you are on pole." "Thank you."

[@henrydomanboi8327]

I don't know why so many people hate the look of this car. I really do like it. The livery works well with the shape of the car, and the nose made it iconic and gave it some personality. I do think it is rather pretty

[@therrydicule]

For such an experiment, it wasn't that bad... The only issue was the balance, but I imagine that with better material that could have theoretically worked.

[@kben24]

'Walrus Nose' is one of my favorite F1 cars… the 2010 Red Bull & Sauber cars used the same concept, but with less elegance

[@ATEC101]

I remember some BMW folks during that F$cked Willitsh*t times stating: If we had partnered with McLaren, we would have 2 WCC's at least. The most powerful engine on the grid, AGAIN. Anybody remember Williams trying to run hydraulic fluid through the carbon fibre tub to the engine and trans without using actual Iines? The torque from the engine was too much for the ridiculous concept but Frank being Frank just kept.....the bed.

[@mbgmadbull1141]

ah yes, my favorite F1 car ever, the Williams JAMIE HYNEMAN edition

[@patrickc9167]

Another video idea came from this..... The modified car BMW-Sauber made for Zanardi for the one off test.

[@gentjim5007]

Miss the v8s, v 10,s. and v12s of the old days!

[@martinlampert4721]

Mclaren also ran Honda's nose wings in latter 2008

[@terminateshere]

I remember how disappointing the 2004 season was. Away during the opening weekend, got home on Monday, checked the race result on Ceefax and it was like "Damn, 2002 all over again". Malaysia saw Montoya put up more of a fight but Ferrari had it under control. We only got a few decent races, most of them long after the title was decided. I wonder if the BMW-Williams relationship would have been more stable if they'd at least taken the constructors title in 2003 - something the 80s turbo BMW never managed. Might have alleviated the push to take wacky design decisions over the winter.

[@josephernest91]

Man I remember the first time I saw that car thinking "what in the actual fuck is that?!" And hoping JP would win just so he wouldn't feel so bad driving that ugly duckling.

[@areasquirrel]

My 3: Motorsport, Snooker, Sumo Wrestling. Hell of a title battle going on in sumo's top flight this weekend. A veteran v. a nearly man v. a sophomore on a tear. At the time I didn't think it was ugly, I thought the ugly design that year was the narrow nose Newey had come up with on the McLaren that should have debuted the previous year but didn't, but as is the way, became de rigeur, because of course it did. Williams were winning in the 90s like they were Ireland in Eurovision. And look at them since. # My Lovely Horse... At the back of the field... # It was a shame. That sleek, tech heavy BMW livery has had an impact, as ever since, I can't imagine Williams not being blue. It was one of the best looks at that time. Too bad the engine was so powerful it couldn't last very long. BMWTF. I also remember that Canada race because I missed it live, watched the highlights on RTE, very late night. So late was the DQ, the highlights were airing, so they put up a graphic after the show, with a delighted announcer saying "Peter Collins has just contacted us from Montreal to tell us that Williams and Toyota have been disqualified for illegal brakes. So that means Jordan score some points! Well done, lads!" 😁🇮🇪

[@deabreu.tattoo]

The actual start of Williams' downfall was the firing of Hill, which made Newey quit, which led to Williams never making a champion car again

[@AidanMillward]

Hill was never fired. Newey left because he wanted the technical director job but that was always going to be Patrick’s job.

[@deabreu.tattoo]

@@AidanMillward by contract, Newey was supposed to have a say in all important decisions, like the driver line-up. Strike 1 was hiring Jacques, strike 2 was firing, I mean, letting Hill go. You're not wrong in saying that he wanted Head's job, but nevertheless Newey left Williams b/c he wasn't being given the importance he thought he deserved, and *that*, I think, is the real point if no return for Williams' success trajectory.

[@surajbalajr.4016]

That P84 is one of the angriest sounding V10s ever made. Holy shit.

[@filipruml]

Just yesterday I was watching Montoya's Monza qualy lap. Amazing stuff.

[@RubyRoks]

I like cars like this. At a glance, all open wheelers look the same and it's nice to see the ones that are visually distinct from the group, regardless of their success. Sadly, the closest thing i can think of to this with the modern cars is the significant rake to the Red Bulls compared to the rest, and that's just a setup thing. Without paying close attention, you'd think F1 was a spec series.

[@OMA7RR]

For some reason i absolutely loved that nose when i was young.

[@captainsmartass3368]

The William FW26 aka the William Walrus nose is my favourite F1 car of all time

[@philbro1829]

LOVED THE WALLRUS CARS

[@BungleBare]

While you’re looking at odd front ends to F1 cars, how about a video examining the dildo noses of the early 2010s? - the worst example of which was surely the Caterham CT05 of 2014.

[@stttttipa]

I was 14 back then, I still remember it somewhat well. It was maybe 3 or 4 years watching F1 somewhat regularly. I remember Renault's advanced rear, Mclaren's narrow nose and those tusks I so much rooted for... yet there it was, another Ferrari, not nearly as dramatic, winning it all once again. It felt really boring in all honesty.

[@Colin_Pole]

I want to know what substances Ferrari were doing during the winter of 1991 to bring us the 1992 car.

[@theiceman7590]

Cant believe Steve Nichols helped designed it aswell smh.

[@tomast9034]

the answer of the wiliams team demise is who left the team before it took a dive?

[@tturi2]

3:56 missed opportunity to drum up "competition" and passion between two brands of the same company, it would be like a diet coke vs coke zero

[@kevinprior3549]

Everything i see the front of that original 2004 nose of the Williamses, i wince!

[@brokentuskclan1795]

BMW went onto cease development on the 2008 car just as their driver was leading the points, because genius.

[@johannessamuelsson6578]

I hope there is more sense in the current Hypercar team than the leadership of the F1 division.

[@AfroMyrdal]

@9:46 duck me, that's a sound I've greatly missed on Sundays! Well, everyday tbh. But there is a very low degree of SO approval for listening to V10 compilations while driving, cleaning, having the seggs, well basically anything. Shame.

[@sultanabran1]

my understanding with twin keel designs of that era was that they were aerodynamically superior but the twin keel was significantly heavier, making the overall performance much of a muchness. ferrari never went to twin keel and dominated this era. mclaren, williams and arrows were the only twin keel cars of this time

[@daninagy4173]

The livery is one of the best from this era, though.

[@ZeroCrystal]

Yes, but does it come with a Portable Walrus Polishing Kit?

[@Jb33124]

*The Beatles start playing on the distance*

[@AidanMillward]

Would have said Fleetwood Max given they had a whole album called Tusk.

[@Jb33124]

@@AidanMillward "MATILDA'S LOST HER TUSK! SHE'S TOOTHLESS!" Jonathan Pierce 1999

[@PuncakeLena]

I for one love the FW26

[@hendriegrimberg5016]

Love the car ❤

[@alexwilliams5819]

I was only 7 years old at the time and even back then I thought the walrus Williams was one of the ugliest looking F1 cars I’ve ever seen, up there with some of the monstrosities of the early 70’s and joined by the class of 2014

[@thomaswatkiss9484]

Great video aiden BTW snooker is better than football

[@djh29971]

BMW and Williams was never the happiest of relationships, with a lack of trust between them and Patrick Head, both blaming the other (reminiscent of Brabham in '82 where BMW almost pulled out, but that's another story) BMW apparently insisted Head step down and was replaced with Sam Michael, although some say Head continued to be a back seat driver. Either way, Williams last chance had gone and they never recovered.

[@hamdanali2036]

11:51 lasted until 2018*. Kimi’s monza pole beat it first

[@The_Seaborg]

I dont care what anyone says i actually like the look of the walrus nose, may not have helped, may have worsened the efficiency of the car, but it just looked cool to me XD

[@Sponge1310]

I actually kinda like the ‘walrus’ design nose 😅

[@Erik_The_Viking]

That walrus nose was a total WTF moment. Nice idea but it had no chance. They went back to basics with a better front wing and things improved. Imagine if they started the season with that front wing.

[@bmstylee]

And if it actually worked everyone else would be rolling out the walrus wing. I always thought it was a cool looking wing.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

@@bmstylee True - everyone likes to copy a good idea.

[@bmstylee]

@@Erik_The_Viking Pink Mercedes has entered the chat. 😁

[@Erik_The_Viking]

@@bmstylee Yup!

[@CyanRooper]

I wonder how many Williams team personnel were kicking themselves when they realised that using a conventional nose would've been a better idea?

[@Guinnessdrnkr1234]

Do you think Ferrari would have still dominated 2000-2004 If BMW partnered McLaren instead of Williams?

[@RageousMode]

I personally loved this design before they changed it back to a conventional design. Funny, as Newey would later introduce a simlar concept on the high side nose RB6 to channel air to the under floor which everyone then copied - only for it to eventually be banned forcing the step nose then lowered nose.

[@davidsaintcyr3384]

engaged

[@Takusman]

I remember Montoya hating that car

[@Juanxlink]

That is a scalextric model I keep to this day, too bad the design was...lacking...

[@marklittle8805]

I so miss the days when Williams was a contender

[@otrab1080]

The weird, the wonderful and the "What the hell is even that?!" stories from the real world of motorsport.

[@iplayeddsharpminor]

F1 and snooker yay. Football lost itself on me after seeing a meme comparing Neymar on the floor with Grosjean rising from the ashes. Oh and being an Arsenal supporter.

[@AidanMillward]

It's only a game so, put up a real good fight I'm gonna be snookering you tonight!

[@iplayeddsharpminor]

@@AidanMillwardyou have no idea how long it took me to figure out JV and co weren’t saying “stiggeriggy stiggeriggy tonight”. Always struggled interpreting lyrics 😂

[@AidanMillward]

@@iplayeddsharpminor it was Captain Sensible that sang it. 😅

[@demander11]

I'll take that over the horrendous 2014 cars

[@ppercut]

will you be getting bk into the longer story time?

[@AidanMillward]

Those older videos were around this length anyway.

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

This was at a time when Williams and McLaren got it wrong but still won on a regular basis. Now they can't even get on the podium. Well McLaren can. Ish.

[@yudhabagaskara98]

British American Racing finished 2nd but failed to win any race in 2004

[@ripperevo2011rrchamp]

Harvey Postlethwaite died in 1999.

[@alexlazebat839]

Jordan would have got 4th anyway in 1998 because equal scores Jordan had won in 1998 whereas Benetton did not. 2001 san marino gp

[@garythefishable]

Tusks are a no from me but the bull horns seen on the 2007 McLaren and BMW would be gladly welcomed back.

[@attilatabanyi3275]

Say, which football team do you support?

[@hugonubario]

2004 the season I can't forget because of that car! yeah the Ferrari domination was as boring as Verstappen domintion is today

[@SteveDull]

Ugly but fast - I'll take that. And what a sound! Yes, you're not aerodynamic - or an aerodynamicist 😮

[@e2rqey]

It's only acceptable to have the bell off if your name is Stephen

[@ilikestuffandstuff4127]

Montoya won at Hockenheim in 2001 not Monza. 👍👍

[@markoarkaina8656]

Nosage? It's a perfectly cromulent word...

[@kevinprior3549]

I thought the 2004 Williams was one of the ugliest looking cars I've ever seen in F1. It was so crap they changed it back to a "normal" nose towards the end of that year.

[@King_Ears]

We need a caterham 'dildo' front end video 😂

[@ianriggers]

Are you a Snooker fan?

[@AidanMillward]

No.

[@RANDOMZBOSSMAN1]

Me being a sports nerd I don't really have a top 3 sports lol I be watching F1 football MotoGP NBA NFL cycling athletics UFC Boxing the list goes on..... I might also need to get a life lmao

[@LFC4LIFEJEDI]

Ferrari International Assistance....

[@oussamabendakir1453]

The funny thing is when i read F1 fans now saying ooo how sad F1 today is not like the good old days fia now is a joke and there is no overtaking....... they have no idea (but i agree that the v10 days cars were so much better and i really think FIA aren't doing a good job making the cars more exciting)

[@mrchipp79]

You should check out "The American Nurburgring" Ozarks International Raceway!

[@johannessamuelsson6578]

What is it with America calling everything "international"? Even the first letter of the IMSA name stands for International, though it only runs national events. I think Sebring is the only track with International in the name that actually hosts an international event.

[@jsquared1013]

@@johannessamuelsson6578 lots of stuff in the US hosts international events. IMSA has manufacturers from all over the world (and races in Canada, at least they used to).