Williams Racing has officially launched its 2025 Formula 1 campaign, unveiling the FW47 with a sleek dark blue livery at Silverstone. This special livery is a temporary look, as the team will showcase its full-season design at Formula 1’s first-ever collective launch event at the O2 Arena in London next week.
Shaking Things Up at Silverstone
Unlike last year’s turbulent preseason, which left the team without a car to showcase, Williams has entered 2025 with renewed stability and ambition. The FW47’s debut was streamed live, marking a confident new direction under Team Principal James Vowles. New signing Carlos Sainz had the honor of turning the car’s first laps at Silverstone, followed by Alex Albon, who enters his fourth season with the team.
Building for the Future
Since taking over, James Vowles has led a major restructuring at Williams, focusing on modernizing car development. Notably, he has moved the team away from outdated processes—including an overreliance on Microsoft Excel—to bring its operations in line with top-tier rivals.
“You’re going to see us progress forwards, but what I’ve always said is we’ve put our focus into 2026, ’27, and ’28,” Vowles explained during the launch event. “We were 700 people, now over 1050 today, and we’re not finished yet. There’s a lot more in the pipeline.”
While the long-term vision remains the priority, Williams still aims for measurable improvements in 2025. Vowles teased that this season could be a breakthrough year, especially with the arrival of Sainz from Ferrari.
Sainz & Albon: A Crucial Partnership
The signing of Carlos Sainz is a significant coup for Williams. The Spanish driver first tested for the team at the post-season Abu Dhabi test in December and has been integrating with the squad since January. His experience at Ferrari will be crucial in helping Williams refine its car and operational approach.
Meanwhile, Alex Albon faces perhaps the biggest challenge of his career. After rebuilding his reputation at Williams following a tough stint at Red Bull, he now has a genuine top-tier teammate in Sainz, which will be a major test of his ability to lead the team.
New Era with Atlassian
Williams also announced a title sponsorship deal with software company Atlassian, its first major agreement of this kind since the ill-fated ROKiT partnership collapsed in 2020. The deal reflects Williams’ growing commercial appeal as it continues its aggressive rebuild.
Final Thoughts
Williams has taken a major step forward in its pursuit of returning to competitiveness. With Sainz leading the charge, Albon continuing to grow, and a modernized approach under Vowles, the FW47 marks a crucial turning point for the legendary British outfit.
The real test begins in Bahrain, but for now, Williams fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.