Formula 1 Williams Renault FW19 1997

The Williams Renault FW19 contested the 1997 Formula One World Championship, debuting at the Australian Grand Prix. Patrick Head was technical director at Rothmans Williams Renault and Adrian Newey chief designer. It was Newey’s final year with the team before moving to McLaren. The drivers were Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jacques Villeneuve. Villeneuve defeated Michael Schumacher in the title battle, while Williams-Renault also won the 1997 Constructors’ Championship.

The FW19 used a naturally aspirated 3.0-litre Renault RS9/RS9B V10. Its chassis was a carbon-fibre monocoque, with front and rear suspension comprising unequal-length wishbones, torsion bars, springs and dampers mounted inside the bodywork. Williams and Komatsu jointly developed its semi-automatic six-speed gearbox with reverse. Weight did not exceed 605 kg including driver and fluids. The team used Elf fuel and Goodyear tyres.