Category Formula One Designer(s) Alan Jenkins Successor FA17 | Constructor Footwork Predecessor FA15 | |
 | ||
Chassis Carbon fibre and honeycomb composite structure | ||
The Footwork FA16 was a Formula One car designed by Alan Jenkins with which the Footwork team competed in the 1995 Formula One season. The car was powered by a Hart V8 engine and ran on Goodyear tyres. It was driven initially by Gianni Morbidelli, who was in his second season with the team, and Taki Inoue, a Japanese pay-driver. Max Papis replaced Morbidelli in mid-season due to the team's financial problems.
Contents
Race history
The car proved to be initially quite competitive, but the team lacked the budget to carry out testing and development. Until the final race of the season, it seemed that Morbidelli's point in Canada would not be added to, but a high rate of attrition led to the Italian taking his first podium finish. This was a real morale-booster, especially after being replaced by the inexperienced Papis for seven Grands Prix.
Papis was still generally quicker than Inoue, who is largely remembered mostly for his two incidents with official course cars more than his tardy driving. At Monaco, his car was being towed back to the pits after practice has ended, when it was struck by the official course car at a speed high enough to flip it over. Inoue was still in the car with no seat belt on, and was thrown out by the accident. Fortunately, he was still wearing his helmet, saving him from serious injury, and he took part in the race.
At the Hungaroring, Inoue himself was hit by the course car. His FA16 had suffered an engine failure, and Inoue's rush to get a fire extinguisher resulted in him straying into the path of the approaching car, which hit him hard enough to knock him over. Again, he was not seriously hurt.
The team eventually finished eighth in the Constructors' Championship, with five points. Morbidelli's podium ensured that they were classified ahead of Tyrrell, who scored the same number of points.
The FA16 was replaced for the 1996 season by the Footwork FA17.
Complete Formula One results
(key)