The Footwork Arrows team, originally Arrows, had been rebranded Footwork in 1991 following heavy investment by Japanese businessman Wataru Ohashi, president of the logistics firm Footwork Express. The 1991 season was troubled by the failed Porsche engine project and the loss of competitiveness that followed, forcing the team to rely on Hart-prepared Ford Cosworth engines partway through the year. For 1992, Footwork secured a supply of Mugen V10 engines derived from the 1990-specification Honda V10 units that Mugen had previously serviced for Tyrrell. The deal was brought about in large part by the arrival of Japanese driver Aguri Suzuki, who joined the team alongside the experienced Michele Alboreto.
The FA13 was a clean, purposeful design from Alan Jenkins, described at the time as conventional and straightforward. It was powered by the Mugen-Honda V10 engine, which gave the team a meaningful step in power and reliability over the previous Ford-based units. The car was never a front-runner, but it was competitive enough to challenge in the midfield and rewarded consistent driving with points finishes.
The 1992 season proved to be one of the more productive periods in Footwork's history during the Ohashi era. Alboreto was the team's primary points scorer, recording four championship finishes over the course of the year. He placed fifth at both the Spanish Grand Prix and the San Marino Grand Prix, and sixth at both the Brazilian Grand Prix and the Portuguese Grand Prix. Suzuki was unable to match Alboreto's consistency, but his presence was instrumental in securing the Mugen engine supply.
Footwork ended the season with six points, finishing equal seventh in the Constructors' Championship alongside Ligier. It was a respectable outcome that demonstrated the FA13's reliability and the team's improved operational footing under the Mugen partnership.
An updated variant, the FA13B, was used by the team in the opening two races of the 1993 Formula One World Championship before the new FA14 chassis was ready. The FA13B retained the basic FA13 structure but incorporated refinements carried over from the team's development work during the winter. However, the 1993 season proved more difficult overall for Footwork. Derek Warwick replaced Alboreto for that year, and the team ultimately dropped back to ninth in the Constructors' Championship with four points, all scored by Warwick.
The FA13 represented the high-water mark of the early Footwork period. Its six points in 1992 would remain the team's most productive championship tally until the mid-decade years brought occasional podium results. The car demonstrated that, given a competitive engine supply and a disciplined design approach, the team could be a genuine midfield force. The Mugen partnership that the FA13 inaugurated continued through 1993, shaping the team's trajectory for several seasons.