Albon and Sargeant looking for 'a change for the better'

Williams drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant have welcomed the new-look livery for 2024 which was unveiled on Monday afternoon, predicting that the striking blue appearance will help the team in its ongoing mission to return to the top.

“It looks great, I love it," Albon said of the new livery "I think it’s subtly evolved over the last year – got a few more sponsors on, which is good. It looks clean. Blue was to be expected – if it was anything other than blue I would have been worried!”

“I agree, I think it looks really good," Sargeant added. "Clean – and normally clean means fast – so hopefully we will make that happen.”

The new look has been described as a contemporary tribute to Williams Racing’s legacy in Formula 1 which includes nine constructors’ world championships.

Last year the team finished P7 in the final standings, with Albon providing all but one point in their overall tally and Sargeant claiming his maiden F1 point in the United States Grand Prix.

• Read also: Williams reveals 2024 livery as Komatsu returns as team partner

“Coming off the back of a very positive year we’re hoping to build on our progress into 2024, working hard to make some good steps forward in performance," Albon commented at the reveal of the new livery in New York City.

"We’ve asked a lot of the team and the factory to get this car where it needs to be, and we’ve also slightly changed the philosophy of the car," he acknowledged.

"I’m interested to see if we can improve some of the characteristics it has historically had," he added. "It will require an adjustment in driving style but I’m confident it will be a change for the better.”

Heading into his sophomore season at Williams, Sargeant said he couldn't wait to get his hands on the actual FW46 at a pre-season promotional filming day in Bahrain on February 209, a day before official testing gets underway.

"After unveiling this great livery I’m now itching to get behind the wheel of the FW46 and keep developing as a driver," he commented.

"Taking the time to properly reflect on my rookie season, there’s been a lot of lessons learned and experience gained that can only benefit me as I enter this new season.

US-born Sargeant added: "I’ve had a productive off season that has allowed me to prepare both physically and mentally for the year ahead.

“I know my goals this year. I’ll be looking to build on the progress I’ve made since being a part of the Williams Racing family.

"I intend to help contribute more to the team’s success. Everyone at Grove has been working tirelessly to deliver the FW46 over the winter break.

"I can’t thank them enough for their hard work and the support they’ve given me. Hopefully we can achieve some great results together in 2024."

The FW46 is the first car fully developed under the leadership of team principal James Vowles, who joined the team from Mercedes a year ago after the departure of Jost Capito.

his year, Williams will have a new multi-year principal partnership with Komatsu, a leading manufacturer of construction, mining, forestry, and industrial heavy equipment.

Williams enjoyed a successful partnership with the Williams F1 in the 1980s and 1990s, which included supplying gearbox components for the title-winning 1996 and 1997 cars.

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