Having missed the five-day Barcelona shakedown test, Williams has now revealed the racing livery of its 2026 challenger, the FW48, marking the beginning of a new era for the Grove‑based outfit as Formula 1 prepares for sweeping regulation changes.
Drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz joined Team Principal James Vowles to present the striking design to the team’s 1,200 employees, who have collectively invested tens of thousands of hours into the upcoming season.
The FW48’s livery features a vibrant gloss blue base — a colour deeply associated with Williams — symbolising both the team’s heritage and its strengthened title partnership with Atlassian.
This is complemented by a flowing black section that sweeps from the chassis side toward the rear, bordered by a red‑and‑white keyline reminiscent of iconic championship‑winning Williams machines such as Nigel Mansell’s FW14B and Damon Hill’s FW18, the latter celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
One of the most notable evolutions is the introduction of white across the sidepods and both wings, adding visual energy and enhancing the visibility of the team’s expanding roster of partners.
The reveal followed the announcement of a major new global partnership with Barclays, joining recent additions Anthropic, BNY, Wilkinson Sword and Nuveen — a clear signal of growing commercial confidence in Williams’ long‑term project.
The livery has been tailored to the radically revised 2026 chassis regulations, which introduce shorter, narrower cars with redesigned aerodynamic surfaces aimed at improving racing quality. Williams has targeted these changes as an opportunity to accelerate its competitive resurgence, building on its strongest season in nearly a decade.
In 2025, the team finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship with 137 points, scoring podiums in Baku and Qatar and securing its first‑ever Sprint podium in Austin.
Admiring the FW48 livery from every angle 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zWlQ48kRN5
— Atlassian Williams F1 Team (@WilliamsF1) February 3, 2026
Team Principal James Vowles emphasised the significance of the moment, stating that “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.”
He added that “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.”
Alex Albon echoed the excitement, saying that “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 highlighted the blend of heritage and modernity, noting that “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.”