F1 Williams FW26 official show car in 2006 livery
Witness the impressive display of this show-car meticulously crafted by the esteemed Williams F1 team for their sponsors RBS, Budweiser, Petrobras, and Allianz, utilized in promotional campaigns. Among the limited remaining specimens, this particular model stands out.
This exceptional vehicle would make a valuable addition to any collection, serving as a prestigious centerpiece for a reception area. Acquired in February 2024 from a German entrepreneur who utilized it as an office ornament, we believe that discerning enthusiasts of F1 automobiles will recognize its significance in such exhibitions.
This Williams F1 car features the 2004 FW26 bodywork, with the exception of the nose, but is presented in the 2006 team livery. It has been meticulously constructed to faithfully replicate the authentic F1 car, utilizing original parts from the team. The components utilized on the Williams include:
- The floor
- OZ wheels
- Michelin Tires (travel)
- Brake disks (front and rear)
- Brake callipers
- Seat
- Seatbelts
- Engine cover
- Rear and front wings
- Wing endplates
- Wish-bones
- Gearbox casing
History of the real car:
The Williams FW28 was the car with which the Williams team competed in the 2006 Formula One season. The drivers were Mark Webber and rookie Nico Rosberg, the reigning GP2 Series champion. Webber was in his second year with the team, and teammate Nico Rosberg carried a hint of nostalgia, as Nico’s father Keke had won the 1982 F1 championship in a Cosworth-engined Williams.
However, 2006 was very disappointing for the team. The car was dogged by a handling problem which affected the cars on entry to corners. Despite the effectiveness of the Cosworth engine and the Bridgestone tires, and the talent of the two drivers, the FW28 could only display brief flashes of promise. Too often, this promise was compromised by poor reliability – an embarrassment for a team that prided itself on engineering excellence. The car seemed competitive at the beginning of the year when both cars scored a double points finish, with Rosberg setting the fastest lap of the race on his F1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix. An excellent second-row qualifying performance at Sepang was wasted when both cars suffered engine failures, and the season went downhill from there. Exceptions were Australia and Monaco, both races where Webber looked like a contender for at least a podium finish until retiring on both occasions with hydraulic failure and an exhaust fire, respectively.
A note of significance for Webber and Williams came on lap 21 of the 2006 Australian Grand Prix. By leading the lap, Webber became the first Australian to have led his home grand prix since the last non-championship AGP was held in 1984. Williams finished eighth in the Constructors’ Championship – the team’s lowest finish since its inaugural season in 1978. Unhappy with the team’s reliability problems, Webber departed the team at the end of the season to join Red Bull Racing.
Livery Williams went into the 2006 season with renewed major sponsorships such as Allianz, RBS, FedEx, Reuters, ORIS, Hamleys, Budweiser, Petrobras, and Castrol. Williams received new sponsorships such as Mobilecast, Tata Group, and discontinued sponsorships like Hewlett & Packard. While it retained the dark blue on white scheme, the stylized “kidney grille” was gone from the nose with the loss of BMW as the engine supplier.
Showroom
By opening on an appointment-only basis, we’re able to ensure that these hygiene standards are met and that social distancing is practised at all times without compromise. When you do visit us, you can rest assured that you’ll have exclusive access to our space so that you can view our exclusive collection up close in absolute safety.