Williams Racing has officially lifted the covers off its FW47 livery, marking the start of a new season with a new car.
After a turbulent 2024 campaign, today’s reveal at Silverstone signals a fresh chapter for the Grove-based outfit.
With Carlos Sainz joining Alex Albon in what promises to be one of the most formidable driver pairings in Williams’ modern history, the team is gearing up for what it hopes will be a season of resurgence.
Reflecting on 2024: A season of highs, lows, and too many repair bills
Let’s be honest—2024 was a rollercoaster. Williams entered the season riding the momentum of a promising P7 finish in 2023, but the year quickly turned into a battle for survival. A series of crashes, driver changes, and reliability issues left the team struggling to keep pace, ultimately finishing ninth in the Constructors’ Championship with just 17 points.
Then there was the mid-season driver swap. Logan Sargeant’s struggles were well-documented, and after a heavy crash in Zandvoort, Williams made the call to bring in academy driver Franco Colapinto for the rest of the year.
2025: A fresh start for Williams with Sainz and Albon
Despite the challenges of last season, Williams heads into 2025 with genuine optimism. The biggest reason? Carlos Sainz.
Williams wasted no time securing his signature, and now, alongside Albon, the team boasts one of the most experienced and well-rounded line-ups on the grid.
“In Alex and Carlos, we have one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid,” said team principal James Vowles. “Their experience and speed will be crucial as we continue building for the future.”
While 2025 will still be a stepping stone towards the all-important 2026 regulation changes, there’s no doubt that expectations are higher than ever. The FW47 must be more competitive, reliable, and—above all—more durable.
What’s next?
The launch event of Williams was characterised by ‘partner’ quizzes, shaped by Valentine’s Day. Sainz and Albon were allowed to reveal to the world that they are sleeping without pyjamas while the FW47 was being assembled in the garage.
Team principal James Vowles also got a special segment: ‘James’s big throbbing brain’. He had to answer questions about physics and Love Island – all of which he got right, of course.
But there was more.
When asked about staying with Williams during a time when Williams wasn’t as competitive as they would’ve liked to be, Albon said:
“I feel like it’s been a long time coming, and I joined this team maybe quite early on in the Dorilton era, let’s say, and it’s great to see.
“It’s almost comforting to know as well that other people are believing the journey that Williams is on, and obviously, I was maybe one of the first ones to believe it in terms of visionary, maybe. But no, it’s great.”
Tonight’s FW47 reveal sets the stage, but the real work begins in just a few weeks when pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain on February 26.
Feature Image Credit: Williams Racing
