The Williams - Honda combination resulted in 18 races won in 3 years. Williams finally won the Constructors Championships in 1986 and 1987, the latter accompanied by the title of drivers achieved by Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet.
Initially, the Honda V6 biturbo engines were powerful but difficult to manage by pilots. The first car to use it was the Williams FW09, which still had aluminum monocoque chassis. By 1985 the car was redesigned. The chassis was made of carbon fiber and the engine was improved in several respects. That season Williams won 4 victories, 2 with Rosberg's car and 2 with Englishman Nigel Mansell.
In the 1986 season Williams won 9 races that earned him the Constructors Championship, but his drivers were overtaken by Alain Prost (McLaren). Piquet had won 4 races and Mansell 5.
In 1987 Williams was overwhelming, crushing his rivals. Mansell won 6 big prizes, but was overtaken by Nelson Piquet, who won 3 races but finished second in 7 races.
The 1987 season car, the Williams FW11, had a surprising technological level. Computer controlled active suspensions and normal shock absorbers had been replaced by hydraulic jacks. The engine developed more power with lower fuel consumption.
But in 1988 the debacle hit Williams. Honda cancelled his contract, so he could then join McLaren. 1988 was one of Williams' worst seasons.
© Adrián Blanco 2005 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —