Williams sets February 3 date for 'striking' 2026 F1 car reveal

Williams has announced it will unveil the livery for its 2026 Formula 1 car, the FW48, on February 3, promising a "striking look" for the new season. The reveal comes as the Grove-based squad carries significant momentum into the new campaign, following a strong 2025 season where it finished fifth in the constructors' standings.

Why it matters:

This launch is more than just a new paint job; it signals the continued evolution of a team on the rise under team principal James Vowles. After years in the doldrums, Williams has shown clear progress, and with the new Mercedes power unit and a driver lineup of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, the team is poised to solidify its position as a regular top-five contender and potentially challenge for podiums.

The details:

• The FW48 livery launch is scheduled for February 3.
• The team has already shown a special livery that will be used during a private test at Barcelona before the official preseason tests in Bahrain.
• The "striking" livery revealed on February 3 will be the team's primary design for the 2026 season.
• Williams finished P5 in the 2025 constructors' championship, a significant step forward in Vowles' multi-year project to rebuild the team.
• Driver Lineup: The team retains Alex Albon and brings in Carlos Sainz, who scored two crucial podiums for the team in the latter half of 2025.

The big picture:

Williams' resurgence is one of the key storylines heading into 2026. The team has methodically rebuilt its infrastructure and technical capabilities, and the on-track results are beginning to show. The arrival of a new set of power unit regulations presents a major opportunity, and Williams hopes to replicate the success it found the last time the rules changed in 2014, when it was a race-winning team with a Mercedes power unit.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the February 3 launch to see the new livery, but the real test will come during preseason testing in Bahrain. The performance of the Mercedes power unit, widely expected to be strong, will be a critical factor in determining if Williams can convert its recent progress into a genuine threat to the top teams and secure more podium finishes in 2026.