Williams has revealed the livery for its FW48 car ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, featuring a dark blue and black base with light blue and white accents to highlight new sponsors Barclays and Komatsu. The launch comes amid delays that caused the team to miss last week's Barcelona shakedown test. Team principal James Vowles expressed optimism about the season despite the setbacks.
Williams Racing unveiled the livery for its 2026 challenger, the FW48, on Tuesday, marking a key moment in preparations for the new regulatory era. The design retains the team's signature dark blue and black scheme but incorporates light blue and white elements on the sidepods to showcase logos from Barclays, announced as the official banking partner, and Komatsu, a sponsor since 2024. Additional white appears on the front and rear wings.
"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 team principal James Vowles. He highlighted the strong driver lineup of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, new partnerships, and an expanding fanbase, while acknowledging the challenges: "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."
The reveal occurs against a backdrop of delays in the FW48 program, leading Williams to skip the Barcelona pre-season shakedown—the only team absent. Vowles explained that while the car could have attended, it would have strained spare parts availability. Instead, the team conducted Virtual Track Testing (VTT) and benefited from Mercedes' data on the shared power unit and gearbox, which showed reliability during the shakedown.
"I’m confident with six days in Bahrain, we will run through the programme that we need to," Vowles noted, referring to the upcoming tests from February 11-13 and 18-20. Speculation arose over a failed nose cone crash test, potentially indicating weight issues, though Vowles remained evasive.
Under Dorilton Capital's ownership and Vowles' leadership since 2023, Williams finished fifth in last season's constructors' championship—its best since 2017. The team has invested in facilities at its Grove base, including new prototyping machinery, and promoted Matt Harman to technical director. Rumors suggest Mercedes' 2026 power unit is strong, aiding Williams as a customer team. Goals include reliable Bahrain running and consistent points to build on recent progress, with Sainz and Albon seen as key assets in a competitive field.
The actual FW48 debut awaits Bahrain, underscoring Williams' determination to rebound from historical struggles—last championships in 1997, last win in 2012—into F1's evolved landscape.
