1/43 Model Review: 1999 Williams FW21 Supertec

Background

Popular Italian, Alex Zanardi returned to F1 for the first time since 1994. He had been in America winning the Cart Championship in between his F1 stints, but coming back to the sport with narrow-tracked cars and grooved tyres, the Italian struggled to match the speed of Ralf Schumacher in the sister car. Zanardi would return to America after this season, where he would lose his legs in a horrifying crash. But his determination and mental strength has been shown since, becoming a double paralympic gold medalist and even testing a modified 2006 BMW Sauber F1 car.

Ralf Schumacher was able to extract much more consistent pace out of the car and earned himself three podium finishes including a 2nd placed finish at Monza. It's been said that Frank Williams had always kicked himself for not getting Michael Schumacher in his car and didn't want to miss out on an opportunity of missing out on another superstar, but whilst Ralf was quick, he was not in the same league as Michael.

This would be the final season of Williams running Supertec developed Renault engines with a works deal with BMW looming for 2000.

Hot Wheels (Mattel)

Hot Wheels 24524

Hot Wheels began making some cars for 1999, and overlapped with Minichamps for the Williams FW21, so that direct comparisons can be made. As a basic shape goes, this is not a bad model, it's a bit bulky and lacks details and finesse, but I've seen much worse budget cars. I like the detail of the rear wing and the separated elements on both front and rear wings. The sidepod is a little basic and flat, but overall it's really not bad. Williams had ditched running the yellow trim on their wheel rims, though Minichamps did the same on their showcar, but they are here on the Hot Wheels car.
Score: 6/10

Minichamps

Minichamps 430990005

Onto the Minichamps version and the first thing I noticed was the driver is facing down into the cockpit, not paying any attention to what is ahead of him. But I really like this model, I quite liked the FW21 for being quite a trimmed model, making the FW20 look rather bulky in comparison. The nose is much pointier, the sidepods are small and sculpted, the rollover bar is much sleeker and the rear end is looking quite small, and with no main bargeboards and a shorter wheelbase to other 1999 cars, it really looks good from the outside. I really think Minichamps have done the car justice, and I can accept for now that there is no high-end model of this car available, this model satisfies me at least.

Minichamps 430990098

Williams used the FW21 for various tests through 1999 and 2000. The Michelin test car came had a few variations, but Minichamps have given us this one, with Jorg Muller at the wheel. There was also a nice BMW testing livery as well, but there is only a 2000 showcar rather than the test livery released by Minichamps. Nevertheless, it was nice to get a testing livery.
Score: 7/10