NEW YORK, NY.- This November, RM Sotheby’s will present the remarkable 1994 Williams FW16, chassis FW16B-01, at Sotheby’s in New York during its marquee Contemporary Art auctions, offering collectors an opportunity to acquire a truly significant Formula 1 car associated with Ayrton Senna. Driven by Senna during the final season of his Formula 1 career, the car carries an extraordinary story that remained largely unknown outside a small circle of insiders for decades. Under the terms of a special agreement with Williams, Senna was to receive a Formula 1 chassis if the team secured the 1994 Constructors’ World Championship. Following his tragic death, Williams honored that commitment, selecting a car personally driven by Senna and gifting it to his family.

The car remained in the ownership of the Senna family for 30 years, making its emergence on the public market a remarkable moment in Formula 1 history.

A Promise Honored

When Ayrton Senna joined Williams for the 1994 Formula 1 season, expectations could hardly have been higher. Senna was already a three-time World Champion, while Williams had secured the previous two Constructors’ Championships. The partnership brought together arguably the greatest driver of his generation and the dominant team of the era. As part of Senna's agreement with Williams, he was to receive one of the team's Formula 1 chassis used during the season, provided Williams secured the Constructors’ World Championship.

Tragically, Senna would never see the conclusion of that season. Following his fatal accident at the San Marino Grand Prix, Williams continued its championship campaign, ultimately securing the 1994 Constructors’ title. At the end of the year, Williams honored its commitment. Chassis FW16B-01, a car personally driven and extensively tested by Senna, was selected and gifted to his family. It was a remarkable gesture that transformed an already significant Formula 1 car into something far more personal: the car Senna had been meant to keep, presented instead to the family he left behind.

For decades, the story surrounding the agreement and the car's subsequent transfer remained largely unknown beyond a handful of insiders. The chassis remained in the ownership of the Senna family from 1994 until 2024, preserved within the Williams collection before being acquired by its current owner through RM Sotheby’s Private Sales. Now, more than three decades after the agreement was honored, the car is being offered for sale publicly for the first time, bringing one of Formula 1's more remarkable stories of provenance to light.

A Direct Connection to Senna's Final Season

One of only two surviving Williams FW16 chassis known to have been driven by Senna, FW16B-01 played an important role in the early development of Williams' 1994 challenger. At the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, Senna drove the chassis during Sunday morning warm-up, recording a lap faster than eventual race winner Michael Schumacher. Just days later, Senna and teammate Damon Hill drove the car extensively during testing at Jerez, covering approximately 842 kilometers as the team worked to refine the newly introduced FW16.

Designed by Adrian Newey and Patrick Head, the FW16 represented a significant technical challenge for Williams. Sweeping regulation changes for 1994 had eliminated many of the sophisticated electronic driver aids that had helped establish the team's dominance in previous seasons. Despite those challenges, Senna demonstrated his extraordinary ability, securing pole position at each of the first three Grands Prix of the year. While FW16B-01 was not the chassis Senna raced during those events, its documented testing and warm-up history provides an exceptionally rare and direct connection to the final chapter of his racing career.

Driven by Legends

The significance of FW16B-01 extends beyond its association with Senna. The chassis was driven by three Formula 1 World Champions, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, and Damon Hill, making it an exceptionally rare surviving example from one of the sport's most memorable seasons. Following Senna's death, the chassis continued its competitive career with some of Formula 1's most recognizable names, including David Coulthard, who drove the car during his debut Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Coulthard drove the chassis to fifth-place finishes at both the Canadian and British Grands Prix, while Nigel Mansell, in his return to Formula 1 after winning the CART IndyCar championship, drove the car at the French Grand Prix, helping Williams secure a front-row lockout in qualifying alongside Damon Hill. Hill himself had driven the chassis during its early development, further adding to its remarkable roster of drivers.

Later upgraded mid-season to FW16B specification, the chassis became part of Williams' remarkable technical turnaround. The improvements helped transform the team's fortunes during a season that ultimately delivered Williams the 1994 Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championship. Few surviving Formula 1 cars can claim a connection to three World Champions of this stature, let alone such a compelling place in the history of the sport.

Preserved for Three Decades

Following its transfer to the Senna family, chassis FW16B-01 remained largely untouched for approximately 30 years, kept in Williams’ care whilst in the ownership of the Senna family. The car survives in unrestored condition, with the addition of Senna's personal seat among the few changes made during its decades in preservation at Williams. Its remarkable state, documented competition history, and deeply personal connection to Senna distinguish it from virtually any other surviving Formula 1 car of the era.

The chassis remained in the Senna family's ownership until 2024, when it was acquired by the current owner through RM Sotheby's Private Sales. Its appearance in New York marks the first time the car has been offered publicly, providing collectors with an opportunity to acquire a historically significant artifact with a story that extends well beyond the racetrack. More than three decades after Williams fulfilled its promise to Senna, the car he never had the opportunity to receive now begins a new chapter, carrying with it a remarkable legacy of sporting achievement, personal history, and a commitment honored.

The 1994 Williams FW16, chassis FW16B-01, will be offered by RM Sotheby's at Sotheby's in New York in November 2026.