Williams FW15

The FW15 was actually ready midway through the 1992 season, but the performance of the FW14B was such that it was decided to hold back the FW15 for the start of 1993.

Before the 1993 season the FW15 was hastily modified to adhere to the latest FIA regulations restricting cars’ width, heightened nose and suspension to accommodate Goodyear’s narrower tyres.

The FW15 was more sculpted than the FW14, with crisper lines and sharper angles. It was slightly narrower and had a larger rear wing.

World Champion Nigel Mansell, unhappy with how contract talks had unfolded with the Williams team, and having experienced difficult inter-team relations with the incoming Alain Prost when they were team-mates at Ferrari, decided his best option was to retire from Formula 1 and pursue an opportunity with the Newman-Haas Indycar team for 1993, allowing son of Formula 1 royalty Graham Hill, Damon to slot into the second car.

The dominance Williams had shown in 1992 continued into 1993, and the two Williams drivers would often qualify a second or two clear of the rest of the field.

Williams scored ten victories from the 16 race season, comfortably securing 1-2 in the World Drivers Championship, and the World Constructors Championship title.

Ayrton Senna, having suffered at the hands of Williams for two and a half seasons decided that it was time for him to get a piece of the action, and offered to drive for free, such was his determination to get behind the wheel of a Williams. In a repeat of the contractual wranglings of late 1992, Alain Prost decided that he’d rather not drive alongside Senna and his contracted was terminated by mutual agreement.