Williams unveils bold new 2026 livery for FW48

Williams has officially pulled the wraps off the striking new look of its 2026 Formula 1 car, the FW48, marking a fresh chapter for the team as it embraces the sport’s all-new regulations era.

The reveal, hosted at the Grove factory, brought together drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz alongside Team Principal James Vowles, in front of the 1,200-strong Williams workforce who have poured countless hours into readying the car.

The FW48 sports a vibrant gloss blue, a colour instantly associated with Williams and its title partner Atlassian. That blue flows into a sweeping black section from the chassis to the rear, framed by a red-and-white keyline – a subtle nod to championship-winning cars like Nigel Mansell’s FW14B and Damon Hill’s FW18, the latter celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Adding energy and movement to the design, crisp white stretches across the sidepods, front wing, and rear wing, giving the car a fresh, modern edge while highlighting the team’s partners in all the right places.

Alex Albon captured the excitement of the reveal: “It’s always special to see a new livery for the first time, and the FW48 looks incredible.

“The design really stands out – it’s bold, modern and unmistakably Atlassian Williams F1 Team. I can’t wait for the fans to see it on track and cheer us on in 2026.”

Carlos Sainz echoed that enthusiasm: “The FW48 livery is a real statement of our intent for 2026. The design celebrates Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s heritage while embracing a fresh, dynamic look for the new era.

“I’m excited to race in this livery and to share the thrill with fans around the world - their support makes all the difference as we continue on our journey together!”

Building Momentum Despite Setbacks

The unveiling comes after Williams missed last week’s Barcelona shakedown due to production delays, underscoring the challenges of preparing a car under the new F1 rules.

The FW48 has been designed around F1’s new regulations, which have made cars shorter and narrower with significantly reworked front and rear wings, creating a new aerodynamic playground for teams.

James Vowles stressed both the ambition and the realism behind the launch.

“2026 is the next step on the path back towards the top for Atlassian Williams F1 Team as we enter a new era for the sport, and we are excited about the season ahead,” said the Briton.

“We have a great driver line up, some fantastic new partners, an ever-growing fanbase and want to build on the success we tasted last year, but we are not naïve about the challenge ahead of us.

“Nobody quite knows what will happen at the first race but we are looking forward to finding out, and hope our fans will love cheering us on with this great new livery.”

• Read also: Williams offers update on preparations – denies FW48 weight issue

The FW48 also symbolizes the team’s recent momentum. Last year, Williams achieved its most successful season in nearly a decade, finishing fifth in the Constructors’ Championship with 137 points, scoring podiums in Baku and Qatar, and claiming its first-ever Sprint podium in Austin.

With a fresh livery, a committed driver lineup, and a suite of new global partners including Barclays, Anthropic, BNY, Wilkinson Sword, and Nuveen, the team is aiming to build on that foundation and push towards the front of the grid in 2026.

As the FW48 heads toward its competitive debut, Williams fans have plenty to look forward to: a car that blends heritage with innovation, a livery bursting with energy, and a team determined to make the new regulations work in their favour.

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