Williams unveils 2025 F1 car in Silverstone launch

Dominika Jordan
Feb 14, 2025, 05:37 AM ET

Williams Racing unveils FW47 with unique livery at the iconic Silverstone circuit.

Williams Racing has taken the wraps off its 2025 Formula 1 car, the FW47, in an exclusive launch event at the iconic Silverstone circuit. The event featured a striking one-off livery, as teams have collectively decided to reveal their racing liveries only at the official F1 season launch in London on February 18.

The FW47 brings a wave of excitement as it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Williams, with the dynamic driver pairing of Alex Albon and the newly acquired Carlos Sainz. Sainz, who joined Williams after a four-year stint with Ferrari, became a key acquisition following Lewis Hamilton's surprise decision to move to Maranello for the 2025 season.

At the private event, Williams conducted a promotional filming day to put the FW47 through its initial paces. Carlos Sainz, taking to the track for the car's debut lap, commented on the experience: "Everything went fine which is good news. The first lap of a newly born car is a bit tricky but everything worked as it should and now we're ready to get into a run plan."

Williams, having finished ninth in the constructors' championship last season, faced challenges in extracting maximum performance from their car. However, team principal James Vowles remains optimistic about the future. Vowles has repeatedly emphasized that Williams is aiming for major success in 2026 when new regulations will potentially disrupt the current competitive dynamics.

The launch event was also notable for the announcement of a new title sponsor, Atlassian, marking Williams' first major sponsorship deal since their brief partnership with Rokit ended in 2020.

The opening race of the 2025 F1 season is set for March 16 in Australia, with pre-season testing scheduled to commence on February 26 in Bahrain.

Williams and fans alike are eagerly anticipating what the FW47 and its drivers will achieve in the upcoming season as the team looks to move up the grid and make a significant impact.