How the cocktail for F1's superteams became outdated
Williams and McLaren won all but three Formula 1 constructors' titles between 1980 and 1998. But as two of their designers explain, what made those teams so successful no longer passes muster in modern F1
Since Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks spearheaded Vanwall's charge to the inaugural Formula 1 constructors' crown of 1958, the badges of just 14 other teams have been affixed to the trophy. Ferrari (16), Williams (nine), McLaren (eight), Lotus (seven), Mercedes (seven) and Red Bull (four) account for some 51 of the 63 titles. Like it or loathe it, grand prix racing is a breeding ground for one-team supremacy. Seemingly, one unstoppable force is only usurped by the next. What is it then that creates these 'superteams'?
Once such 'superteam' was Williams, which enjoyed a meteoric rise from the ashes of the hand-to-mouth Frank Williams Racing Cars and then Wolf-Williams efforts to become the most potent squad of the early 1980s.
Share Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.