Williams unveils new 2025 F1 car

The Williams Formula 1 team has taken the covers off its 2025 challenger, the FW47, at a launch event in Silverstone.

Following McLaren's Silverstone launch of the MCL39 on Thursday, Williams also headed to the British Grand Prix venue to showcase its new car to the world while holding a filming day for drivers Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz.

Like its papaya counterpart, the Williams livery shown in the Grove team's livestream on an older car has received a temporary black and blue design ahead of F1's joint season launch at London's O2 Arena on Tuesday, where all teams are expected to first unveil their definitive 2025 colour schemes.

The FW47, which was unveiled during the livestream before it hit the circuit, is the second car produced under team principal James Vowles' helm as he aims to get the once-successful team back to the front in Formula 1.

"It's obviously an evolution of last year's car," Vowles said ahead of the last F1 season before the 2026 overhaul of technical regulations.

"We've had a reasonable winter. It's always difficult to know, though, because the field, as we finished the last race, I think we qualified within half a second of one another at Abu Dhabi. So the field's closing in together, and what you don't know is how good a winter others have had.

"What I can say is I'm proud of the work we have achieved across the winter. When you look at the car, you can see just 1,000 details that are just another evolution of where we were before. So there's been literally no bolt left to where it was. We're making sure we're continuously moving the team forward. Let's see where that falls out."

Having shored up its commercial portfolio with the signing of software firm Atlassian as its first title sponsor in five years, the 2025 season is expected to be another transitional year as Williams aims to hit the ground running with the all-new technical regulations.

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47 (Photo by: Alex Kalinauckas)

While the team continues to undergo structural changes at thew factory, Albon and Ferrari signing Sainz are aiming to improve upon the team's lowly ninth position in the 2024 constructors' championship.

Williams hasn't achieved a podium finish on merit since the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix with Lance Stroll, as its only top-three result since then was George Russell's in the one-lap 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.

However, when it comes to reaching the podium this year, Vowles said: "Nothing's impossible. We're going to remember that a few surprises happened last year as well.

"At the same time, what I can say is this: we have a lot more of the ingredients available to us. I think on a normal race weekend, it's going to be unlikely, but there are circumstances that will fall our way, and we have two of the strongest drivers that will give absolutely everything – as will I, as will the team."

Photos from Williams launch

Filip Cleeren

Formula 1

Carlos Sainz

Alex Albon

Williams

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