Williams 2025 F1 car – the FW47 – was unveiled during a special event held at Silverstone.
The unveiling which took place on Friday February 14 showcased the car in a bespoke one-off livery generating considerable buzz and anticipation for the upcoming season.
Williams 2025 F1 car launch not only provided a first glimpse of the FW47 but also highlighted the team’s strategic approach to balancing pre-season promotional activities with Formula 1 Management’s (FOM) requirements regarding livery reveals.
The Silverstone event was streamed live, allowing fans, partners, and media around the world to witness the new challenger roar to life, underscoring the importance of stakeholders in the team’s journey.
The new driver lineup of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz was also present, adding to the excitement surrounding the team’s prospects for the 2025 F1 season.
Sainz who switched to Williams from Ferrari completed the first laps in the FW47, providing initial feedback on the car’s performance and handling. His comments, shared with the media, indicated a positive start, with the car performing as expected during the initial installation lap.
The decision to reveal Williams 2025 F1 car in a special livery reflects a strategic approach to maximizing exposure while adhering to F1’s regulations.
With all teams agreeing to keep their official race liveries under wraps until the F1 season launch event in London on February 18, the Grove-based outfit opted for an interim color scheme for the Silverstone unveiling.
This allowed the team to showcase its new car and sponsors, including title sponsor Atlassian, without fully revealing its hand.
The camouflage livery, featuring black-and-blue detailing, cleverly incorporated sponsor logos in their intended locations, giving a sense of the car’s potential look while maintaining an element of surprise for the official launch.
The FW47 represents a significant step forward for Williams, with the team aiming to improve upon its ninth-place finish in the 2024 constructors’ championship.
Team Principal James Vowles has highlighted the importance of the 2026 F1 season, when new regulations will come into effect, as an opportunity to further shake up the competitive order.
“It’s obviously an evolution of last year’s car,” Vowles said at Williams 2025 F1 car launch. “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.”
Key changes on FW47
One of the key changes on Williams 2025 F1 car is the adoption of the latest-spec 2025 pushrod Mercedes configuration for the rear suspension.
This marks a departure from the 2023 pullrod system used in the previous season, aligning Williams with the current Mercedes design. The switch to a pushrod system is expected to offer performance benefits, including improved airflow and enhanced driver confidence under braking.
The launch of the FW47 also highlights the progress Williams has made in terms of its operational efficiency and car development.
Unlike the previous year, when the team struggled to get the car built in time for testing, the FW47 was ready well in advance, meeting weight targets and demonstrating a higher level of build quality.
This reflects the positive changes that have taken place within the team over the past 18 months.
