An excellent second-row qualifying performance at Sepang was wasted when both cars suffered engine failures, and the season went downhill from there.

Exceptions were Australia and Monaco, both races where Webber looked a contender for at least a podium finish until retiring on both occasions with hydraulics failure and an exhaust fire respectively.

By leading the lap Webber became the first Australian to have led his home grand prix since the last non-championship AGP was held in 1984.

Williams went into the 2006 season with renewed major sponsorships such as Allianz, RBS, FedEx, Reuters, Oris, Hamleys, Budweiser, Petrobras and Castrol.

While it retained the dark blue on white scheme, the stylized "kidney grille" was gone from the nose with the loss of BMW as engine supplier.