Williams unveils FW48 livery: the team targets continued resurgence in 2026

Williams has officially unveiled the striking new livery for its 2026 Formula 1 challenger, the FW48, marking a visual statement of intent as the sport enters its most significant regulation overhaul in a generation. The design represents not merely an aesthetic refresh but a symbolic representation of the team's ambitious trajectory back toward championship contention following its most successful season in nine years.

A new identity for a new era

The FW48 livery maintains Williams' traditional dark blue and black foundation while incorporating strategically placed light blue and white accents on the sidepods and a more prominent white presence across the front and rear wings. This design evolution reflects the team's expanded partnership portfolio, with the color placements accommodating the logos of Barclays—announced as Williams' official banking partner—and Komatsu, the Japanese construction equipment manufacturer that has sponsored the outfit since 2024.

Team Principal James Vowles articulated the significance of this moment: "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," emphasizing that while the team is "not naïve about the challenge ahead," there is genuine optimism surrounding the campaign.

Building momentum from 2025

Williams enters 2026 riding genuine momentum after securing 137 points and a fifth-place finish in the 2025 Constructors' Championship—their best result since 2017. Carlos Sainz, who joined the Grove squad last season, delivered two Grand Prix podiums alongside debut sprint podium success, providing tangible evidence of the team's upward trajectory. Sainz remains alongside long-serving driver Alex Albon as Williams targets further progress under the new regulations.

The challenge of the regulation reset

The 2026 regulation changes represent a genuine reset opportunity across the grid. F1's new cars are shorter, lighter, and engineered for closer racing, fundamentally altering the competitive landscape. This comprehensive overhaul effectively neutralizes historical advantages, presenting smaller teams like Williams with genuine opportunity to bridge the gap to frontrunners.

However, Williams' preparation has been complicated by delays in the FW48 programme that prevented the car from attending the Barcelona pre-season test in January. Despite this setback, Vowles has emphasized the silver lining: as a Mercedes customer team, Williams benefits from Mercedes' learning at Barcelona without expending their own spare parts allocation, allowing them to arrive in Bahrain fully prepared.

Fan engagement and looking forward

Before today's official livery reveal, Williams demonstrated its commitment to fan engagement by allowing supporters worldwide to vote on a temporary livery for pre-season testing. The fan-chosen "flow state" design won with nearly a third of the vote share, drawing almost 55,000 votes from 162 countries. This initiative underscores Williams' philosophy of bringing fans closer to the team than perhaps any other competitor on the grid.

With the FW48 set to debut at Bahrain's pre-season tests (February 11-13 and 18-20), Williams enters 2026 with a compelling narrative—a team with genuine performance improvements, an enhanced driver pairing, expanded partnerships, and a regulation reset that presents genuine competitive opportunity. The striking new livery symbolizes not just aesthetic evolution but the team's ambitions in a new era.