Williams Unveils 2026 Livery as Newey Details Aggressive Aston Martin AMR26

Williams has revealed the livery for its 2026 FW48 car, marking a visual commitment to the new era despite missing all pre-season testing in Barcelona. Separately, Aston Martin's new technical partner Adrian Newey has outlined the 'aggressive' design philosophy behind the team's AMR26 challenger, his first project since joining the Silverstone squad.

Why it matters:

These developments highlight the contrasting early stages of the 2026 season for two historic British teams. Williams is playing catch-up after a significant strategic decision to skip testing, while Aston Martin, with its new superstar designer, is signaling an ambitious and potentially risky technical direction. How these teams manage their respective challenges will be crucial in determining their competitive order under the new regulations.

The details:

• Williams' FW48 Livery: The team unveiled a color scheme blending its traditional deep blue with a lighter blue accent and white detailing along the sidepods. The launch comes after the team, led by James Vowles, chose to miss the entire Barcelona shakedown, a decision that has put them on the back foot in terms of initial track time and data collection.
• Newey's Aggressive Philosophy: Adrian Newey, who joined Aston Martin in March 2025, described the approach to the AMR26 as intentionally aggressive. He explained that he and the team have pushed the boundaries of the 2026 regulations in their design, though he tempered expectations for immediate results, acknowledging this is his first car with the team.

What's next:

The immediate pressure is on Williams to recover the lost testing time and ensure its car is ready and reliable for the season opener in Bahrain. For Aston Martin, the focus will be on whether Newey's aggressive design translates to on-track performance and if the team can manage the potential reliability trade-offs that often come with such an approach. Both storylines will begin to unfold as pre-season preparations continue.