Williams Racing revealed their 2024 F1 contender in an elegant launch event in New York City.
Williams Racing unveiled a spectacular new livery for the FW46, which will be driven by American phenom Logan Sargeant and Alex Albon in an attempt to take a big step ahead in their lofty plan to return to their winning ways.
The new livery was unveiled on a car that looked a lot like last year’s Williams FW45. However, the actual FW46 is scheduled to make its debut in a Bahrain shakedown drive on February 20, one day before the three-day pre-season test gets underway.
The colour scheme for the 2024 FW45 is much the same as it was for last year’s FW45, featuring hues of dark and navy blue with exposed carbon fiber on the lower sections of the car.
Additionally, the team has incorporated a red and white pinstripe around the nose and sidepods, a reference to its British heritage and ancestry of previous cars, which includes Jacques Villeneuve’s 1997 championship-winning FW19 and Nigel Mansell’s 1985 FW10.
Williams also declared that it has re-established its partnership with the industry-leading mining, construction and industrial equipment firm Komatsu. The brand is featured on the sidepods of its updated livery after signing a multi-year sponsorship deal.
Komatsu was a brand that was affixed to Grove-based cars in the 1980s and 1990s. Williams acquired gearbox components from Komatsu, particularly during its championship-winning runs in 1996 and 1997.
This newfound partnership shows a shared dedication to sustainability, innovation and performance with the goal of utilizing cutting-edge technology to generate on-track performance.
Along with Komatsu, Williams Racing now has a broader selection of key partners including THG, PUMA, VAST Data and others. These alliances along with Mercedes-Benz’s ongoing engine supply highlight the team’s strategic attempts to strengthen its competitive advantage.
The FW46 which is the first car fully designed under Team Principal James Vowles’ direction, ushers in a new era for Williams.
“It is a significant milestone to unveil the 2024 F1 livery at an iconic location in New York City,” said team principal James Vowles. “The FW46 has been the focus of the team for many months and there is still a tremendous effort going in from everyone at Grove to deliver our challenger for this year.
“As we look to build on the momentum from last season, we have a driver line-up in Alex and Logan that is capable of consistently fighting for points while helping lead our development for the future.
“Since joining Williams Racing a year ago, I’ve seen this team pull together to overcome a number of challenges and claim seventh in the constructors’ championship, which meant a great deal for everyone involved.
“We’ve also shown the world that we’re building the foundations for moving forward.
“We’ll continue to strengthen the team both on and off the track through improvements to our infrastructure, investing in our people, and attracting fantastic new partners like Komatsu.”
Albon remains with the squad after making an immediate impression for Williams in the 2023 campaign during which he scored 28 points and helped the team hold off a late charge from AlphaTauri to claim seventh place.
As he approaches the last year of his contract, the Anglo-Thai driver is becoming more and more valuable in the projected 2025 driver market.
“Coming off the back of a very positive year we’re hoping to build on our progress into 2024 F1, working hard to make some good steps forward in performance,” Albon said.
“We’ve asked a lot of the team and the factory to get this car where it needs to be, and we’ve also slightly changed the philosophy of the car.
“So I’m interested to see if we can improve some of the characteristics it has historically had.
“It will require an adjustment in driving style but I’m confident it will be a change for the better.”
American Sargeant managed to secure a sophomore season after displaying some signs of performance despite making some avoidable mistakes throughout a difficult rookie year that saw him record only one point in Austin.
“I’ve had a productive off season that has allowed me to prepare both physically and mentally for the year ahead,” Sargeant said.
“I know my goals this year. I’ll be looking to build on the progress I’ve made since being a part of the Williams Racing family.
“I intend to help contribute more to the team’s success.”
