Williams became the second F1 team to launch their 2025 car after McLaren unveiled their new challenger on Thursday.
Carlos Sainz has moved to Williams from Ferrari after Lewis Hamilton joined the Scuderia, with Sainz teaming up with Alex Albon this year for a formidable driver line-up for team principal James Vowles.
READ: How Sainz can still fulfil F1 dream as part of Williams masterplan
Ahead of the 10-team season launch on Tuesday, F1 75 Live, where all 10 teams will reveal their new liveries, Williams unveiled their 2025 car - the FW47 - at a special event at Silverstone.
Sainz, Albon and Vowles all spoke at the launch at Silverstone, before the two drivers took to the track in their new challenger.
F1 WILLIAMS CAR LAUNCH 2025 - LATEST UPDATES
- Williams launched their 2025 F1 on Friday at Silverstone
- Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon spoke at the launch event
- McLaren unveiled their 2025 car with a special livery on Thursday
- EXPLAINER: When is F1 75 Live - and how will 10-team launch work?
How Carlos Sainz can still fulfil F1 title dream at Williams with James Vowles’s masterplan
13:32 , Kieran JacksonAfter two years in the job, it is no longer a surprise when Williams boss James Vowles – Mercedes’ former chief strategist and architect of numerous Lewis Hamilton victories – makes his well-worn bold statement on the future of the team. So bold, in fact, that it would be unadvisable if his words did not carry so much authority and his experience so much respect.
In short, Vowles has dismissed this current era of F1 as a free hit for a fallen giant of the sport. On Friday morning, as Williams launched their 2025 FW47 car at an ice-cool Silverstone, his message did not waver.
Full piece below:
How Sainz can still fulfil F1 title dream at Williams with Vowles’s masterplan
The Williams FW47!
10:52 , Kieran JacksonHere is the car in the garage at Silverstone!
A reminder that the 2025 livery will be revealed at F1 75 Live on Tuesday at The O2 Arena in London!
Jenson Button on Williams's new sponsor Atlassian:
13:02 , Kieran Jackson“It shows the progress this team has been making, to land such a big partner is a big deal. They can see the leadership of this team and how they’ve turned it around over the last few years, it’s a big shift for this team.
“Everyone here is passionate about motor racing, 2025 is going to be a really exciting year!”
James Vowles on Williams's 2025 car:
12:30 , Kieran Jackson“It’s an evolution of last year. The field is closing in together, you don’t know how good a winter others have had.
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved this winter. No bolt left to where it was, looking to moving the team forward.”
Video of Sainz in a Williams!
11:32 , Kieran JacksonFW47 in action for the first time 💙💨 pic.twitter.com/Ynj3KgovN4
— Atlassian Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) February 14, 2025
What happens now?
10:33Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon will continue their day in the FW47, with a series of laps around Silverstone for a filming day!
They’re capped at a maximum of 200km of driving today, before they head to pre-season testing in Bahrain in a fortnight’s time!
They will both also be present on Tuesday, at F1 75 Live at The O2 Arena in London, when Williams reveal their 2025 livery to the world!
Williams car launch ends!
10:18 , Kieran JacksonIt’s a hell of a finale, with a Williams fan on stage receiving some flowers and a giant teddy bear from Jenson Button on Valentine’s Day!
And that’s the end of the launch event!
Carlos Sainz, speaking to Jenson Button after his few installation laps:
10:17 , Kieran Jackson“Everything went fine, good news! An install lap of a new car is tricky but everything went as planned.
“There’s two or three things which could be improved, will give the feedback. And then we’ll start going with the run-plans.”
Carlos Sainz on team radio:
10:14 , Kieran JacksonSainz: “All good so far, all good. It’s really cold!”
The start of the Spaniard’s journey at Williams!
Carlos Sainz is out on the track now at Silverstone!
10:10 , Kieran JacksonThe Spaniard’s first laps in the FW47!
Button: “They will now know if they’re going to be competitive or not.
“Massive butterflies. You can see the excitement. This is what they’re best at and born to do.”
Jenson Button on James Vowles:
10:04 , Kieran Jackson“When you listen to James talking about F1, his passion shines through. I worked with James for many years, back to 2003 with BAR as a strategist and when I won the world championship, his leadership has been phenomenal.
“He brings so much, everyone looks up to him.”
Vowles is being quizzed by Jones now!
10:00 , Kieran JacksonRandom questions, a lot of science stuff I did not understand, but Vowles is one smart guy I think it could be said!
5/5!
And the final question he got right?
“Who won Love Island 2024?”
Mimi and Josh, apparently...
Jenson Button on Sainz's first laps in the FW47 this morning:
09:59 , Kieran Jackson“It won’t look slow to us! These cars are phenomenal, but the first two laps is installation, he’ll come in and check the car over, and then he’ll start pushing.
“As a driver, you’re excited - making sure there’s no niggly issues there. You know from lap one if you’ve got a reasonable car for the season.
“He’ll have done days in the simulator, it will feel very natural in the simulator!”
James Vowles on the new car:
09:54 , Kieran Jackson“It’s an evolution of last year. The field is closing in together, you don’t know how good a winter others have had.
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved this winter. No bolt left to where it was, looking to moving the team forward.
On the potential of a podium this year:
“Nothing is impossible, there were a few surprises last year. We have a lot more of the ingredients available to us, on a normal race weekend it will be unlikely. We have two of the strongest drivers who will give everything, as will I.”
Williams' 2025 car!
09:52 , Kieran JacksonHere’s a photo or two of the 2025 car!
A reminder: this is not the livery. That will be revealed on Tuesday at F1 75 Live!
Mr & Mr!
09:50 , Kieran JacksonAlbon and Sainz now playing a classic game of Mr & Mr!
For me, it’s a tricky watch...
Best Q to Albon - Who is Albon’s favourite driver of all-time, Schumacher or Hamilton?
Sainz: Schumacher.
Meanwhile, Ayrton Senna and Gilles Villeneuve are revealed as Sainz’s favourite drivers!
The pair take their leave, with Sainz in the car around 10:30am!
Alex Albon on the team's journey
09:46 , Kieran JacksonAlbon: “I was one of the first ones to believe in our journey, especially with Carlos and Atlassian joining, there’s a buzz around the team.”
Carlos Sainz on the off-season:
09:45 , Kieran Jackson“I struggle to relax [over off-season], I’m hyper-active. Went to the Maldives for six days where there’s just beach and sand, but after two days I need to go back to training, tennis, padel, start being active.
“Relaxing in the sand is not for me!
Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz are now on stage!
09:44 , Kieran JacksonAlbon: “I can’t believe how cold it is!”
Sainz: “Freezing morning in Silverstone!”
It looks cold!
Williams's chief mechanic Ben Howard:
09:42 , Kieran Jackson“We’ve had a busy week getting this car going, I know it’s 1C at Silverstone but anticipation!
“This has been ongoing throughout last season, working in the background!”
Vowles on when Williams could be back on the top:
09:38 , Kieran Jackson“I’ve always said we’re focused on 26, 27 and 28. I want to make sure that we’re not taking the short-term gain at the cost of long-term. We want to be winning championships, that’s the investment we’re putting in.”
James Vowles appears on stage!
09:37Jones asks Vowles how he’s finding being a team principal:
“It’s been brilliant, Williams have welcomed me like a family. I’m privileged, very proud of the car we’ve got in front of me.”
On Williams’s new sponsor Atlassian:
“In the history of Williams, this is the biggest partnership we’ve ever had. Probably one of the biggest in the sport, or sports, full-stop. Everything is about collaboration and teammwork. It’s about being a challenger to other systems and dynamics, how we want to work with each other is how we work all the time.
“We have two of the best drivers, some of the best individuals, but they’re partners. The really big thing is those individuals believe in our journey, believe in me and it’s huge.”
F1 Williams car launch!
09:33 , Kieran JacksonJones explains that the car here is not the actual 2025 livery, which will be revealed at F1 75 Live on Tuesday!
An intro video tells us that we will hear from: Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, James Vowles and Jenson Button!
F1 Williams 2025 car launch!
09:31 , Kieran JacksonWe’re underway at Silverstone - with Channel 4 F1 presenter Steve Jones getting the morning moving!
Carlos Sainz's new race helmet!
09:26 , Kieran JacksonWhat do we think?!
Every detail counts.
— Atlassian Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) February 13, 2025
Introducing Carlos' new lid for 2025 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rrPWTx7FMK
Jacques Villeneuve lands new F1 role alongside Jenson Button at Williams
Thursday 13 February 2025 18:51 , Kieran JacksonJacques Villeneuve has returned to Williams F1 as an ambassador alongside fellow world champion Jenson Button and three-time W Series winner Jamie Chadwick.
Villeneuve, who appeared as a pundit twice last year for Sky Sports F1 and is known for his forthright opinions, won the 1997 F1 world championship with the team and was the last Williams driver to win the title.
Now, he joins 2009 world champion Button and Indy NXT racer Chadwick as a team ambassador as Williams look to “strengthen the connection between the team’s celebrated history and its ambitious future.”
Villeneuve remarked: “Williams has been a crucial part of my life, filled with fond memories.
“I am ecstatic to be part of the family again, and to help celebrate the team’s heritage while supporting its future.”
Albon and Sainz arrive at Silverstone!
09:11 , Kieran JacksonThe launch starts at 9:30am (GMT)!
It's FW47 Launch Day 🙌
— Atlassian Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) February 14, 2025
Alex and Carlos have arrived at Silverstone and are ready to go 👊 pic.twitter.com/sLGTS4kM79
Williams explain decision to release Franco Colapinto to Alpine
09:01 , Kieran JacksonWilliams Team Principal James Vowles explained why the team let the promising youngster switch to Alpine and claimed that the move represents Colapinto’s ‘best chance’ of winning a seat either later this year or for the 2026 season.
Vowles said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Alpine for Franco [Colapinto] to join the team on a multi-year arrangement starting in 2025.
“Over nine memorable races with Williams he clearly showed he is deserving of a place in Formula 1 and we always said we would support him to get one.
“Williams has one of the most formidable driver line-ups on the grid for 2025 and beyond in Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, so we believe this agreement with Alpine represents Franco’s best chance of securing a race seat in 2025 or 2026.”
Williams F1 car launch!
08:56 , Kieran JacksonGood afternoon and welcome to live updates as anticipation builds towards the 2025 F1 season with the team’s individual car launches!
McLaren, last year’s constructors’ champions, got the ball rolling on Thursday as they launched their 2025 car at Silverstone, with a special “camouflage” livery.
Yet on Friday, it is Williams’ turn to take centre stage at the home of British motor racing as they unveil their 2025 car, with drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon also set to appear!
Stay right here for all the latest news from the world of F1 as we build-up to Friday’s launch!
Oscar Piastri explains McLaren’s 2025 ‘papaya rules’ stance with Lando Norris
08:30 , Kieran JacksonOscar Piastri insists he will race McLaren teammate Lando Norris “hard but clean” as the Australian voiced his world championship hopes in 2025.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season – at Piastri’s home race in Melbourne on 16 March – the 23-year-old explained further the rules of engagement between the two drivers this year.
“We are going to be able to race each other,” Piastri said, at McLaren’s car launch in Silverstone on Thursday.
“We’ve shown time and time again that we can race each other hard, but cleanly, and as long as we’re not taking points off the team, then that’s how we’re going to go racing.
“If there becomes a points difference in either direction towards the end of the season and we need our teammate’s help, then we’ll try and help each other out.”
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Who are Williams's drivers this year?
08:07 , Kieran JacksonAlex Albon is heading into his fourth season with Williams, having joined the team from Red Bull prior to the 2022 season.
The British-Thai driver enjoyed a promising 2023 season and finished 13th in the standings, but 2024 was a tougher year for the Grove-based team. Albon accrued only 12 points, finishing sixth.
Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, joins the team this year from Ferrari after Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move to the Scuderia!
The Spaniard is a four-time race winner and was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023.
Sainz won his first F1 grand prix at Silverstone in 2022 and won last year in Australia and Mexico.
Lando Norris gets tough with Max Verstappen: ‘I need to get my elbows out’
07:31 , Kieran JacksonNorris said at the McLaren launch on Thursday: “I need to get my elbows out (against Verstappen) and show I am not willing to give him any positions. I also have to be a smart driver. You have to be smart to go up against Max.
“It is always a lot harder when you are in the car, rather than when you rewatch it, and when I saw some of the things I did last year, I was like, ‘what the hell have I done that for? And what an idiot.’
“But at the same time, I don’t need to go out and prove something to him. I don’t need to take any unnecessary risks. I don’t think you have to do anything special to try and beat Max. He is quick, aggressive and one of the best ever but the easiest way of beating him is just by being quicker than him and staying ahead.”
McLaren launch 2025 car at Silverstone
07:18 , Kieran JacksonMcLaren have become the first team to launch their 2025 car ahead of the new F1 season – with the MCL39 sporting a special camouflage livery design at Silverstone.
The papaya-clad outfit claimed their first constructors’ world title in 26 years last year, while Lando Norris finished second in the drivers’ championship behind Max Verstappen. Norris and Oscar Piastri are now looking for individual success this year as they both aim to become McLaren’s first drivers’ champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
On Thursday morning, Norris took to the track in the MCL39 at Silverstone for a promotional filming day, with the car sporting what the team described as a “striking geometric camo design in shades of papaya and black”.
F1 urged by DR Congo to end talks with ‘blood-stained’ Rwanda over hosting race
06:12 , Kieran JacksonThe Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has urged Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to end talks with Rwanda over hosting a grand prix in the future.
Rwandan president Paul Kagame announced last December, while the east African country hosted the FIA end-of-season awards gala, that Rwanda is bidding to host an F1 race as the sport eyes a return to the African continent for the first time since 1993. South Africa are also keen on a return to the calendar.
Yet in a letter seen by The Independent, the DRC’s minister for foreign affairs Therese Kayiwamva Wagner has asked Domenicali to “end negotiations and rule Rwanda out as a potential host.”
Full story below
F1 urged by DR Congo to end talks with ‘blood-stained’ Rwanda over hosting race
How Lewis Hamilton can be worth £100m to Ferrari with 2025 F1 succes
04:02 , Kieran JacksonLewis Hamilton can be worth “triple digits” to Ferrari if he wins the 2025 Formula 1 world championship, says sport finance expert Dr. Rob Wilson.
Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton has made the switch to the fabled Italian outfit this year, following 12 years and six world titles with Mercedes.
In an indication of the magnitude of Hamilton’s move to F1’s most famous team, his first photo in association with Ferrari – posing in a dark suit in front of Enzo Ferrari’s house – is the most-liked F1 post of all time on Instagram, with more than 5.6 million likes.
Full story below:
How Lewis Hamilton can be worth £100m to Ferrari with 2025 F1 success
Eddie Jordan apologises live on radio amid cancer treatment: ‘Please forgive me’
03:17 , Kieran JacksonEddie Jordan vocalised his emotions about his cancer treatment and apologised in a heartbreaking moment during a radio interview on Thursday morning.
"I'm just not myself at this moment in time. I'm a little all over the place, so please forgive me."
"Sorry guys, just a small thing, thank you,” Jordan said. "I've just come out of getting chemotherapy and I'm not 100 per cent together here guys.
Max Verstappen arrives at Red Bull technology campus on Thursday
02:16 , Kieran Jackson
Toto Wolff reflects on Lewis Hamilton’s exit to Ferrari: ‘It was right for both of us’
01:01 , Kieran Jackson“It was right for both of us,” Wolff said, when asked about Hamilton’s exit to Ferrari.
“When you see Lewis in his first appearances in Ferrari, this picture in front of the Enzo Ferrari house is iconic! Lewis with his sense of style.
“At the same time, us [Mercedes] embarking on a different route, trying to reinvent ourselves with a young driver in addition to George.
“He’s not mentioned enough, we have a senior, accomplished driver who won races, and this new kid coming up.
“Lewis doing something on his own, something new. I think it was a refresh for both of us.”
Daniel Ricciardo given advice for ‘celebrity’ F1 status by former Red Bull star
Thursday 13 February 2025 23:41 , Kieran Jackson"If he has still got racing on his mind, then he's got to find a race championship, but there is no question he would be an asset for a Formula 1 team in terms of personality," David Coulthard told the Driver podcast.
"But this isn't a personality contest, it is a stopwatch contest, and you've got to acknowledge that McLaren didn't work out and then the comeback with VCARB [RB] didn't work out either.
"But he has been gifted a period of time in F1 where the popularity and growth has been such that he's a celebrity beyond being a driver.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he has already worked out that working within the media space will help keep that celebrity.”
Zak Brown makes ‘realistic’ statement for 2025 F1 season after McLaren title win
Thursday 13 February 2025 22:46 , Kieran JacksonZak Brown believes “every team will have made progress” over the winter break as McLaren boss looked ahead to defending their F1 constructors’ title in 2025.
The Woking-based team claimed their first teams’ championship since 1998 as they fought off a late challenge from Ferrari to seal the trophy at the final race of the 2024 season in Abu Dhabi.
McLaren launched their 2025 car – the MCL39 – at Silverstone on Thursday with a camouflage design, ahead of the full livery reveal at the 2025 season launch at The O2 Arena in London on Tuesday.
As excitement builds towards the first race of the season – the Australian Grand Prix on 16 March – Brown conceded that McLaren must be “realistic” in anticipating improvements from their rivals this year.
Full story below:
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Zak Brown makes ‘realistic’ statement for 2025 F1 season after McLaren title win
Lewis Hamilton urged to stop ‘nonsense’ as ex-F1 chief makes feeling clear on Ferrari move
Thursday 13 February 2025 21:40 , Kieran JacksonLewis Hamilton has been urged to stop his colourful non-racing forays by Bernie Ecclestone – with the former Formula One supremo labelling Hamilton’s interests as “nonsense.”
Hamilton, the seven-time F1 world champion, has made a highly-anticipated £50m-a-year switch to Ferrari this year after 12 years and six titles at Mercedes.
The British driver, now 40, is desperate to win an eighth world title which would put him above Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher in the all-time championship list.
Yet Ecclestone, who has had his run-ins in recent years with Hamilton, believes Hamilton will not even last the length of his two-year contract at the Scuderia and made his feelings clear on the Brit’s fashion choices and other ventures.
Full story below:
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Ex-F1 chief urges Hamilton to stop ‘nonsense’ outside of F1 ahead of Ferrari debut
James Vowles' reaction to Villeneuve joining as an ambassador:
Thursday 13 February 2025 20:30 , Kieran Jackson“It’s a privilege to have Jenson, Jacques and Jamie with the team for 2025,” said Williams team principal James Vowles.
“Together they are the perfect representation of this iconic team: the history we have made, our proud tradition of investing in future champions and opening up access to motorsport, and our ambition and determination to make history again.
“Jenson and Jacques made their F1 debuts with Williams and went on to become World Champions, while Jamie has broken boundaries for women in motorsport as a Williams Racing driver and mentor to Lia. We are delighted to have them as part of the next chapter in Williams’ story.”
Zak Brown, speaking at McLaren's launch:
Thursday 13 February 2025 19:45 , Kieran Jackson“Today is a big milestone in our journey in the fight for the 2025 title. It’s great to get our championship challenger, the MCL39, on track for the first time and to launch the culmination of the team’s hard work,” Brown said.
“We must be realistic that every team will have made progress over the winter. Last year highlighted just how much the grid has closed up, which is a brilliant thing for the sport.
“We believe we have made further steps forward since the championship-winning MCL38 but we won’t know where we sit in the standings until we get into qualifying in Australia.
“We’re a team that never stops racing and we’ll be giving it our all to bring both championships back to Woking.”
Lando Norris, speaking at McLaren's car launch:
Thursday 13 February 2025 17:48 , Kieran Jackson“It’s exciting to hop in the MCL39 for the first time and see what it can do on track, ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain,” Norris said.
“The camo livery is a fun one and it’s great to be able to showcase something different ahead of our full livery reveal at the official F1 75 launch.
“This year will be more competitive than ever, so we’ve got a lot to do to be able to retain our constructors’ title and go for the drivers’ as well.”
What time is Williams' car launch on Friday?
Thursday 13 February 2025 16:42 , Kieran JacksonWilliams’s launch starts at 9:30am (GMT) on Friday, with the reveal taking place at Silverstone - home of the British Grand Prix.
