50 days until Bahrain: Our most memorable season openers

Formula One World Championship season openers often provide a variety of firsts.

Naturally, they’re the first race of a season, providing the first chance to see new drivers on track and presenting the lucky few with the chance of a first podium.

With just 50 days to go until the light goes green for first practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix, we’re taking a walk down memory lane to highlight a selection of memorable season openers for Williams Racing.

In 1996, Formula One hit the streets of Melbourne’s Albert Park for the very first time and our pairing of Damon Hill and rookie Jacques Villeneuve enjoyed a near-perfect weekend.

The Canadian took centre stage on Saturday, displaying no first Grand Prix jitters to take pole position in his maiden qualifying session, with Damon just +0.138 slower.

But Sunday was to prove a different story for our pair of future World Champions. Jacques maintained his lead through turn one whilst his teammate lost positions, only for the race to be halted after a heavy collision involving Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert and David Coulthard.

At the restart, the FW18’s dominance shone through with both blue and white cars able to pull away from the pack. Jacques’ dream debut would escape him towards the end of the race as he was slowed by an oil leak that covered Damon’s car behind.

The man from Quebec was forced to slow to simply get to the finish, which allowed Damon to pass and take the win, 38 seconds ahead of his teammate.

The 2008 season opener in Melbourne was a true race of attrition, with three safety car periods, a disqualification and a whopping 13 retirements.

Nico Rosberg had put his FW30 in P7 in qualifying whilst Kazuki Nakajima lined up at P14 in his second Grand Prix.

Both Williams managed to get through the opening lap drama relatively unscathed, with Kazuki only needing a new front wing.

Nico kept his cool as others around him fell away either through accidents or mechanical failures, crossing the line in third to secure his first-ever podium in F1, the first of many for the future World Champion.

Kazuki was the last car to cross the line, finishing P6 to record what would remain his best result in the sport.

Weeks after our founder Frank Williams’ life-changing road accident in France, his team were readying themselves for the first race of the 1986 season in Rio de Janeiro.

Two-time World Champion Nelson Piquet had joined the team over the winter to partner Nigel Mansell, who was still full of confidence after picking up his first F1 victories at the tail end of ‘85.

Nelson was the hometown hero, but lined up for the race in P2 after a stunning lap from his compatriot Ayrton Senna, with Nigel in third.

The Brit’s race was to last less than a lap after spinning off, but things were brighter for his teammate, passing Ayrton for the lead by the end of lap three.

Alain Prost did attempt to spoil the party at Jacarepaguá by attempting a one-stop strategy, but engine issues midway through the race forced the Frenchman to retire.

There was to be no battle between the Brazilian pair out front, as Nelson cruised to his 14th career victory a whole 34 seconds ahead of Senna, with the legendary Murray Walker bellowing “this one is for you, Frank'' as he took in the final lap.

The 1981 season began with the United States Grand Prix West, hosted on the streets of Long Beach, California.

Riccardo Patrese in the Arrows stunned the paddock by pipping our man, reigning World Champion Alan Jones, to pole position by just 0.009 seconds.

After an enthralling opening few laps, Carlos Reutemann in the other Williams led from his teammate but whilst lapping a back-marker, the Argentine ran wide which opened the door for the Australian to take the lead.

The pair would pull away from the field and secure the team’s third 1-2 finish in a row, and the second successive victory for Alan.

Nigel Mansell began his title-winning campaign of 1992 with a dominant drive in the South African Grand Prix.

Held on the newly revised Kyalami circuit, Nigel took pole by almost three-quarters of a second from Ayrton Senna, with teammate Riccardo Patrese back in fourth place.

Our Nige, with the now-iconic Red Five on the front of his car, led from lights to flag, claiming the second Grand Chelem of his career.

He would finish 25 seconds ahead of his Italian colleague who crossed the line in P2 as the pair flexed the muscles of the FW14B.