Williams have unveiled a throwback livery for the 2021 Formula 1 season, which is supposed to encapsulate the team’s storied history.
The new livery is the first under the ownership of Dorilton Capital, bringing an end to the 40-year stewardship of founder Sir Frank Williams.
However, the team’s new owners are determined to hold onto Williams’ prosperous past. The striking new look references its title-winning blue, white and yellow cars from the 1980s and 1990s.
The team claimed seven constructor titles between 1980 and 1997 and designed some of F1’s most iconic cars, such as the FW14B.
Like previous seasons, white and blue remain the base colours of the livery. Though the 2021 version features a healthy amount of blue at the rear, broken up by flecks of yellow.
“[The livery] acknowledges our incredible past and retains the spirit, drive and motivation that remains at the core of Williams’ DNA, yet looks to the future and signposts our long-term ambition to return to the front of the grid,” Williams CEO Jost Capito said.
George Russell and Nicholas Latifi remain the drivers of choice for 2021. While the pair failed to score a single point last year, the team were significantly more competitive than in previous seasons.
The team reached Q2 on nine occasions and finished 11th – one place outside the points – at four Grands Prix. They were also much closer on pace to fellow backmarkers Haas and Alfa Romeo across the year.
To bolster Williams’ technical side, ex-McLaren manager Simon Roberts stays on as team principal. Meanwhile, 2009 world champion Jenson Button joins the fold as a senior advisor.
The new car has already completed a shakedown run at Silverstone ahead of pre-season testing at Bahrain next week.
