Frank Dernie F1 Designer Profile & Career Stats

Formula 1 Designer

Frank Dernie

27th in all-time ranking

4

Constructors' Titles

3

Drivers' Titles

41

Grand Prix Wins

29

Grand Prix Poles

Designer Profile

Country	United Kingdom
Date of Birth	Apr 3rd 1950 (age 76)
Roles	Chief designer 2 cars Technical director 5 cars Head of aerodynamics 8 cars
F1 Cars	15 (1977–1997)
F1 Teams	Williams, Ligier, Arrows, Team Lotus, Hesketh
Ranking	27th of 273 all-time car designers

Drivers' Titles

• 1980FW07BAlan Jones
• 1982FW08Keke Rosberg
• 1987FW11Nelson Piquet

Wins per Team

Williams 1979–1987 · 8 cars · 40 wins Ligier 1992–1996 · 3 cars · 1 win Arrows 1997 · 1 car · 0 wins Team Lotus 1989–1990 · 2 cars · 0 wins Hesketh 1977–1978 · 1 car · 0 wins

Constructors' Titles

• 1980FW07B54 clear of Ligier
• 1981FW07C34 clear of Brabham
• 1986FW1145 clear of McLaren
• 1987FW1161 clear of McLaren

Key Career Landmarks

FirstLast

CarHesketh 308E 1977Arrows A18 1997

Race1977 Spanish F1 Grand Prix1977 ESP F1 GP 27 years, 35 days27y, 35d1997 European F1 Grand Prix1997 EUR F1 GP 47 years, 206 days47y, 206d

Pole1979 British F1 Grand Prix1979 GBR F1 GP 29 years, 102 days29y, 102d1987 Mexican F1 Grand Prix1987 MEX F1 GP 37 years, 198 days37y, 198d

Win1979 British F1 Grand Prix1979 GBR F1 GP 29 years, 102 days29y, 102d1996 Monaco F1 Grand Prix1996 MON F1 GP 46 years, 46 days46y, 46d

Podium1979 Monaco F1 Grand Prix1979 MON F1 GP 29 years, 54 days29y, 54d1997 Hungarian F1 Grand Prix1997 HUN F1 GP 47 years, 129 days47y, 129d

Constructors' title1980 Italian F1 Grand Prix1980 ITA F1 GP 30 years, 164 days30y, 164d1987 Spanish F1 Grand Prix1987 ESP F1 GP 37 years, 177 days37y, 177d

Drivers' title1980 Canadian F1 Grand Prix1980 CAN F1 GP 30 years, 178 days30y, 178d1987 Japanese F1 Grand Prix1987 JPN F1 GP 37 years, 212 days37y, 212d

F1 cars designed by Frank Dernie15 cars · 1977–1997All F1 cars →

P81997Arrows A18Technical director1 podium9 ptsYamaha engineJS43P61996Ligier JS43Technical director1 win15 ptsMugen-Honda engineJS41P51995Ligier JS41Technical director2 podiums24 ptsMugen-Honda engineP81992Ligier JS37Chief designer6 ptsRenault engineLotus 102P81990Lotus 102Technical director3 ptsLamborghini engineP61989Lotus 101Technical director15 ptsJudd engineP1 · Champion1986–87Williams FW11Head of aerodynamics18 wins278 ptsHonda engineP31985Williams FW10Head of aerodynamics4 wins71 ptsHonda engineFW09P61983–84Williams FW09Head of aerodynamics1 win27.5 ptsHonda engineP41983Williams FW08CHead of aerodynamics1 win36 ptsFord engineP41982Williams FW08Head of aerodynamics1 win44 ptsFord engineP1 · Champion1981Williams FW07CHead of aerodynamics4 wins95 ptsFord engineFW07BP1 · Champion1980Williams FW07BHead of aerodynamics6 wins120 ptsFord engineP21979Williams FW07Head of aerodynamics5 wins75 ptsFord engine1977–78Hesketh 308EChief designer0 ptsFord engine

Stats current as of: 16 Oct 2026

Frank Dernie is credited with 15 Formula 1 cars for Williams, Ligier and Arrows between 1977 and 1997. Those cars won 41 Grands Prix, 3 drivers' titles and 4 constructors' titles. The most successful was the Williams FW11, with 18 wins. Frank Dernie ranks 27th of 273 in the all-time F1 car designer ranking.