A chance to own one of only two surviving Williams FW16s driven by the late Ayrton Senna will present itself when the car heads to auction with RM Sotheby’s in New York this month.
The car was the gift that Senna never received, as a special agreement with Williams stated that Senna would take ownership of a Formula 1 chassis if the team won the 1994 Constructors’ World Championship. Ultimately, Senna’s tragic death during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix meant he never got to see Williams’ Constructors’ title win at the end of that season, although the team honoured the agreement by gifting the car to his family.
The FW16 has remained in the Senna family for 30 years and is now being offered for its first public sale after being acquired privately in 2024. Chassis FW16B-01 holds the extra distinction of being driven by three world champions: Senna, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, alongside David Coulthard.
Designed by Adrian Newey and Patrick Head, the FW16 was a significant technical challenge for Williams, with sweeping regulation changes meaning many of the sophisticated electronic driver aids that had helped establish the team's dominance in previous seasons had to be eliminated. While FW16B-01 was not the chassis Senna raced during the first three Grands Prix of the year, which Williams won, it was documented as being used in testing and warm-ups. This included the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, where Senna drove the chassis during Sunday morning warm-up, recording a lap faster than eventual race winner Michael Schumacher.
Following Senna’s tragic death, the chassis was driven by David Coulthard during his debut Formula 1 Grand Prix and Nigel Mansell, in his return to F1 at the French Grand Prix after winning the CART IndyCar championship. Its role in Williams’ 1994 Constructors’ title win cannot be understated.
After being given to the Senna family, chassis FW16B-01 remained largely untouched for approximately 30 years and was kept in the care of Williams during that period. It survives in unrestored condition, with the addition of Senna's personal seat and is now set to embark on its next chapter.
Chassis FW16B-01 is estimated to sell for between $4 and $6 million at auction.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: RM Sotheby’s