Williams records its first Formula 1 one-two finish

Williams waited years for its first Grand Prix victory, then required only two more weeks to produce its first one-two. At Hockenheim, Alan Jones and Clay Regazzoni turned the FW07’s Silverstone breakthrough into evidence that the team had not merely found a good day. It had found a winning car.

Regazzoni had won the British Grand Prix on 14 July after Jones retired while leading. That result gave the modern Williams operation its first Formula 1 victory and confirmed that recent aerodynamic development to the ground-effect FW07 had transformed its competitiveness.

Jones takes the start

Jean-Pierre Jabouille put Renault on pole for the German Grand Prix, with Jones second. When the race began, the Williams driver made the stronger start and led into the opening lap. Jabouille remained close enough to challenge, but spun while pursuing Jones early in the race.

Regazzoni had started fifth. He worked past the cars ahead and overtook Jacques Laffite for second place on lap 13. From that point, Williams held the first two positions.

The apparent control hid a late concern. Jones managed a leaking rear tyre for much of the second half, while the team kept Regazzoni behind rather than risk losing the result through an internal fight. Jones reached the finish 2.91 seconds ahead of his team-mate, with Laffite third.

From first win to formation finish

The result was Williams’ second consecutive victory and its first one-two. It also moved the team into third place in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of Lotus.

More important than the table was the pattern. Regazzoni had won at Silverstone, Jones won in Germany, and the Australian followed with victories in Austria and the Netherlands. Williams therefore took four successive Grands Prix during the middle of 1979, a run that changed the team from promising outsider to the grid’s immediate reference.

The first one-two at Hockenheim also clarified the hierarchy for the following season. Jones became the central title contender, and in 1980 he won the Drivers’ Championship while Williams secured its first Constructors’ Championship. The team that had spent years trying to survive had needed one fortnight to move from a maiden win to a formation finish.