Its engine was a Renault RS6 3.5 V10. The team's main sponsor was Rothmans, replacing Camel Cigarettes and Canon used on the FW14 and FW15C. The car was designed around the major regulation changes that the FIA had introduced in the off-season, banning the various electronic devices that had been used by the front running cars during the preceding two seasons.
The car featured a Renault RS6 3.5 V10 engine. Rothmans took over as the main sponsor, replacing Camel and Canon from the FW14 and FW15C. The vehicle was designed with the new FIA regulations in mind, which prohibited electronic devices used by top cars during the previous seasons.