Williams FW26

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Williams FW26

Juan Pablo Montoya driving the FW26 at the 2004 Canadian Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Williams
Designer(s)	Patrick Head (Technical Director) Gavin Fisher (Chief Designer) Antonia Terzi (Chief aerodynamicist)
Predecessor	Williams FW25
Successor	Williams FW27
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon aramid epoxy composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbone, torsion bar, pushrod
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbone, coil spring, pushrod
Length	Over 4,600 mm (181 in)
Width	1,800 mm (71 in)
Height	950 mm (37 in)
Engine	BMW-Power P84 2,998 cc (183 cu in) V10 electronic indirect multi-point injection with 4-stroke piston Otto-cycle naturally-aspirated, mid-mounted
Transmission	Williams 6/7-speed + 1 reverse sequential semi-automatic paddle shift with limited-slip differential
Power	> 950 hp (708 kW) @ 19,000 rpm,[1][2] 410 N⋅m (302 ft⋅lb) torque
Weight	605 kg (1,334 lb) including driver and fuel
Fuel	Petrobras Podium unleaded 95 RON racing gasoline
Lubricants	Castrol
Brakes	Carbon Industrie carbon discs and pads operated by AP calipers
Tyres	Michelin Pilot slick dry and treaded intermediate and wet
Clutch	AP Racing multi-plate carbon clutch
Competition history
Notable entrants	BMW Williams F1 Team
Notable drivers	3. Juan Pablo Montoya 4. Ralf Schumacher 4. Marc Gené 4. Antônio Pizzonia
Debut	2004 Australian Grand Prix
First win	2004 Brazilian Grand Prix
Last win	2004 Brazilian Grand Prix
Last event	2004 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F/Laps 18 1 1 2
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Williams FW26 is a Formula One racing car designed and built by Williams F1 for the 2004 Formula One season. The design team was led by Patrick Head, Gavin Fisher, and Antonia Terzi. It was driven by Ralf Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Antonio Pizzonia and Marc Gené and proved to be one of the most attention-grabbing cars of the season.^[3]

Head supervised the car with the aim of being on the pace immediately, whilst his design team came up with a revolutionary aerodynamics package. The car featured a radical front section, nicknamed the 'Walrus nose'. It featured a short, stubby nosecone connected to the front wing by sloping vertical spars which allowed more airflow to the underside of the car. In an effort to maximise the airflow, the front suspension was designed around the twin keel principle, pioneered by Sauber and also used by McLaren and Jordan.

Launch control and fully-automatic gearboxes were also banned for 2004, which had been used by the team for the previous three seasons, since the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

The FW26 proved fast in pre-season testing and Montoya was tipped as a title favourite,^{[by whom?]} but during the season proper the car proved difficult to set up and was inconsistent, with Montoya and Schumacher both struggling to maximise the car's potential. The car was genuinely outpaced by the Renaults and BARs of that time, as well as the Byrne/Brawn-designed Ferrari F2004, which dominated much of the season. This meant the team was largely in the upper midpack among the competition this year, but not in contention for the title.

The mid-season was especially barren. The cars were disqualified from second and fifth-place finishes in Canada for running brakes that infringed the technical regulations, and Schumacher suffered a heavy crash at Indianapolis, sidelining him for three months, while Montoya was disqualified for the second race in a row. Schumacher's replacements, Marc Gené and Antônio Pizzonia could do little with the car and it was left to Montoya to defend Williams's honour.

The team redesigned the front end of the car in time for the Hungarian Grand Prix and fitted the car with a more conventional nosecone. It was with this configuration that Montoya set the then-all-time fastest F1 lap in pre-qualifying at Monza, almost 163 mph average. This does not stand as a lap record as it was not set during the race. He rounded off the season with a win in Brazil, whilst the returning Schumacher put in strong drives in Japan and China. Following Montoya's win in Brazil, Williams would not score another win until eight years later, at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, which was won by Pastor Maldonado in the FW34.

The FW26 was the last Williams Formula One car that was designed under the supervision of longtime Williams technical director Patrick Head.

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	WCC
2004	Williams	BMW P84 V10	M		AUS	MAL	BHR	SMR	ESP	MON	EUR	CAN	USA	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	CHN	JPN	BRA	88	4th
				Juan Pablo Montoya	5	2	13	3	Ret	4	8	DSQ	DSQ	8	5	5	4	Ret	5	5	7	1
				Ralf Schumacher	4	Ret	7	7	6	10	Ret	DSQ	Ret							Ret	2	5
				Marc Gené										10	12
				Antônio Pizzonia												7	7	Ret	7

• 
  Juan Pablo Montoya 2004 Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying, 28 August 2004 (FW26B; with new, improved front wing)
• 
  FW26 during demonstration run at Regent Street, London, 6 July 2004
• 
  FW26 during demonstration run at Regent Street, London, 6 July 2004

Media related to Williams FW26 at Wikimedia Commons