Ground Effect

Lore & Background

The FW07 was closely based on the Lotus 79, even being developed in the same wind tunnel at Imperial College London. Some observers, among them Lotus aerodynamicist Peter Wright, felt the FW07 was little more than a re-engineered Lotus 79, just having a stiffer chassis. The car was small and simple and extremely light, powered by the ubiquitous Ford Cosworth DFV. While not the first to use ground effects in Formula One, an honour belonging to Colin Chapman and the Lotus 78, Dernie may have had a better grasp of the principles than even Chapman. The car's performance dramatically improved after the British Grand Prix when chief designer Frank Dernie implemented a system ensuring the car's skirts touched the ground at all times and corrected aerodynamic leakage. The car in the second half of the 1979 season was almost unbeatable. The FW07 became FW07B in 1980, and Alan Jones, now with Carlos Reutemann, developed the FW07 further, working especially on setup and suspension strengthening. The car was now so efficient in creating downforce from its ground effect design that the front wings were unnecessary. The FW07B evolved into the FW07C for 1981, and further work was done to the suspension, especially after the FIA banned the moveable skirts needed for effective ground effect. The FW07D was an experimental six-wheeled test car with four driven rear wheels and two driven front wheels, tested by Alan Jones on a single occasion at the Donington Park circuit.

In Their Own Story

The rain had just cleared at Brands Hatch in 1980. Alan Jones eased the FW07B out of the pit lane, the white livery gleaming under the floodlights. As he pushed through the first corner, the sensation was distinct—the car didn't slide; it clung to the asphalt as if magnetized. The venturi tunnels beneath the chassis were working perfectly, sucking the machine down while the Cosworth DFV roared overhead. In that moment, the balance of physics and engineering felt absolute.

Reader's Guide

The FW07 made its debut at the Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama in 1979. At the British Grand Prix, Jones stuck the revised Williams on pole and was immediately 2 seconds faster than the next fastest car. Jones won 4 of the next 5 Grand Prix in Germany, Austria, Holland and Canada. In 1980, Jones won five races in Argentina, France, Britain, Canada and Watkins Glen to win his only world championship, while Reutemann won at a wet race in Monaco. Williams won their first Constructors' Championship. In 1981, Reutemann challenged Nelson Piquet for the championship, narrowly missing out in the final race, but Williams took home the constructors' championship after four more wins. The FW07C was the second fastest car of 1981, behind the Renault RE30, but the Williams was more reliable. After Jones retired, Williams took on Keke Rosberg in 1982. After 15 wins, 300 points, one drivers' and two constructors' titles the FW07 was replaced by the similarly engineered FW08 from early 1982.

Did You Know?

• The FW07 was the first car to win a championship for Williams Racing, taking both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles in 1980.
• At the 1980 French Grand Prix, Alan Jones used a specially prepared Cosworth DFV developed by Cosworth that produced 500-510 BHP at 11,400 RPM.
• The FW07D was an experimental six-wheeled test car with four driven rear wheels and two driven front wheels.
• BBC's Horizon series followed the team during winter testing and produced the film Gentlemen, Lift Your Skirts broadcast during 1981.