Williams finishes a credible third in the constructors’ championship in its first year with BMW. Ralf Schumacher takes three podiums for the team and the FW22 demonstrates great consistency. Briton Jenson Button is confirmed as Schumacher’s team-mate in January, following a shoot-out for the second Williams seat with Bruno Junqueira at Barcelona. Jenson retires from a points-scoring position in his first race and he finishes sixth in his second, the Brazilian Grand Prix. At the United States Grand Prix the team confirms that its test driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, will partner Schumacher in 2001.
STATISTICS
Car: FW22
Engine: BMW V10
GPs Contested: 17
Wins: 0
Podiums: 3
Poles: 0
Fastest Laps: 0
Constructors Championship: 3rd, 36 points.
Drivers Championship: Schumacher, 5th; Button, 8th
FASTEST LAPS
0
POLES
0
WINS
0
PODIUMS
3
CAR
FW22
ENGINE
BMW V10
SEASON HIGHLIGHT
Ralf Schumacher’s third place in Melbourne – just 20s behind race winner Michael Schumacher – takes some beating.
DID YOU KNOW?
BMW.Williams introduces a major new sponsorship portfolio for 2000. It includes global giants Compaq, Reuters and Allianz.