The History of Williams – 1991

Canon Williams Team – 125(2)
YearPoints(Position)CarDriverChassisEngine
199172(2)5Nigel MansellFW14RS3/3B
 53(3)6Ricardo Patrese

Before the start of the season Williams’ Team Manager, Peter Windsor, is briefly abducted from outside the Didcot factory, beaten up and dumped at the roadside.

In the first race of the season both Ricardo Patrese and new (re-)signing Nigel Mansell fail to finish due to problems with the new semi-automatic gearbox. This was to prove to be the team’s Achilles heel.

The Canadian Grand Prix in June saw the infamous Mansell waving incident. With only one lap to go Mansell was waving to the crowds in anticipation of a win when the revs dropped, Mansell went to select another gear and found neutral, the revs dropped further and the engine cut out!

It wasn’t until the 7th round of the championship the Mansell finally won a race … one round after team-mate Patrese.

At Belgium Ayrton Senna lets it be known that he is less than pleased with Frank Williams for re-signing Nigel Mansell and Ricardo Patrese without telling him thus denying him a useful bargaining position with Ron Dennis.

Italy in September and Nigel Mansell announces that he is willing to commit himself to at least another three years of F1.

Disaster struck in Portugal as Mansell is disqualified. Mansell left his pit stop only to discover that he only had three wheels. A new wheel was put on but this was done in the fast lane of the pits contravening FIA regulations. Mansell was out.

The penultimate race of the season and Mansell’s challenge on the championship was over when he slid into the gravel trap.

Results

YearRoundCountryDriverGrid PosFinish PosResult
19911United States Grand PrixNigel Mansell420Gearbox
19911United States Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese314Gearbox
19912Brazilian Grand PrixNigel Mansell314Gearbox
19912Brazilian Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese22Finished
19913San Marino Grand PrixNigel Mansell425Collision
19913San Marino Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese219Electrical
19914Monaco Grand PrixNigel Mansell52Finished
19914Monaco Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese317Spun off
19915Canadian Grand PrixNigel Mansell26Electrical
19915Canadian Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese13Finished
19916Mexican Grand PrixNigel Mansell22Finished
19916Mexican Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese11Finished
19917French Grand PrixNigel Mansell41Finished
19917French Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese15+1 Lap
19918British Grand PrixNigel Mansell11Finished
19918British Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese326Collision
19919German Grand PrixNigel Mansell11Finished
19919German Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese42Finished
199110Hungarian Grand PrixNigel Mansell32Finished
199110Hungarian Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese23Finished
199111Belgian Grand PrixNigel Mansell320Electrical
199111Belgian Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese175Finished
199112Italian Grand PrixNigel Mansell21Finished
199112Italian Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese421Gearbox
199113Portuguese Grand PrixNigel Mansell419Disqualified
199113Portuguese Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese11Finished
199114Spanish Grand PrixNigel Mansell21Finished
199114Spanish Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese43Finished
199115Japanese Grand PrixNigel Mansell319Spun off
199115Japanese Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese53Finished
199116Australian Grand PrixNigel Mansell32Finished
199116Australian Grand PrixRiccardo Patrese45Finished

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