Williams is in the midst of yet another moment of transition in its recent history, but today it took the first step towards the future by unveiling the colors that will make its single-seaters recognizable in the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship.
The Grove-based team today presented the official livery of the FW45 at its British headquarters, the new model that will help the British team continue its ascent from the slums of the standings to where it belonged just under 30 years ago. : the top of the category together with teams like Ferrari and McLaren.
The Williams livery was presented on the mannequin of the FW44, last year’s single-seater which initially, in 2022, had sported a beautiful all-blue dress, to then gradually lose color race after race to lose grams of weight and gain a few thousandths of performance .
The new livery bears a striking resemblance to the colors in which it finished last season, although it has a greater amount of matt blue painted bodywork than the many carbon black patches it raced in for much of 2022.
Gulf, a sponsor who abandoned McLaren at the end of last year after just one season of partnership to have a more important role also from a visual point of view, finds space in the 2023 color scheme that will dress the FW45s from Sakhir’s pre-season tests. The oil logo was placed on the nose, just in front of the cockpit and the central attachment point of the halo.
The livery, by Williams’ own admission, is nothing more than an evolution of the one used in 2022. The same goes for the FW45. The new single-seater has not yet been completed, but according to the Grove team, it will be an evolution of the FW44 although it will have very different bellies, as well as a different concept of the front suspension and increased external aerodynamic surfaces, i.e. more bodywork than seen in the 2022.
In the official Williams press release, the team talks about better aerodynamic efficiency than the FW44, more downforce and improved driveability. The 2023 livery was unveiled by Williams board member James Matthews and Gulf chief executive officer Mike Jones. The two were joined by the two starting riders, namely Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant together with the third rider Jamie Chadwick, who will race in Indy NXT this season.
A fallen noblewoman, Williams, but now holding some elements that suggest the possibility of a comeback. In the last 2 months yet another revolution has taken place, with the farewell of the now ex team principal, Jost Capito, and of the technical director François-Xavier “FX” Demaison. The two left Williams on December 12.
A few days ago, however, James Vowles (former head of strategies in the Mercedes F1 AMG team) was announced as Capito’s replacement, after having played an active part in the 8 years of domination by Mercedes, from 2014 to 2020 and, partially thanks to the title Builders, to 2021. New faces, new ambitions. Vowles will begin taking up his new role on February 20th. Precisely for this reason Vowles was not present at today’s presentation.
The Williams FW44 in 2023 livery
Photo by: Williams
Also with regard to the riders, compared to last year, we find a confirmation and a novelty. Alexander Albon was rightly confirmed after being the real and only light on the track thanks to the 4 total points collected. In place of Nicholas Latifi, who died at the end of last season, there will be Logan Sargeant.
The American driver managed to win the Superlicense to race in Formula 1 at the end of last FIA Formula 2 season and, also thanks to his American passport (which makes Liberty Media and the Stars and Stripes happy above all) he secured the steering wheel of the FW45 as race driver next to the Thai.
Matthew Savage, chairman of the Williams board, said: “As Williams Racing continues its transformation, we are proud to unveil this year’s livery.
“We are thrilled with this year’s car and cannot thank the entire Grove team enough for their hard work heading into the season. I am delighted to welcome new and existing partners to our journey.”
“With new team principal James Vowles joining us later this month, and with an exciting driver line-up of Alex and Logan, Williams Racing will give it their all in 2023.”
Alexander Albon, one of the two regular drivers for 2023, said: “I’m really excited to be back for another year with the team. The car is fantastic and will take to the track at Silverstone.”
“The team worked hard last year and over the winter to fix some key areas of our car, working hard to try and maximize the car’s performance for 2023, so I can’t wait to see what the FW45 can do. We’ve also welcomed new partners to the team this year, so it’s great to have them on board.”
These are instead the first statements of Logan Sargeant as Williams 2023 starting driver: “I’m really excited to start the season after what, for me, has seemed like a very long winter”.
“I’m very motivated, we’ve worked hard. The car is fantastic and will demonstrate the huge commitment the team has put into this season, so I’m looking forward to getting started at Silverstone before heading to Bahrain.”
Williams, during the next week, will make the first Shakedown with the complete FW45 on the Silverstone track, next February 13, in which both 2023 drivers will be able to test it before embarking the material for Sakhir, towards the pre-season tests and the first grand prix of the new season.
Read also:
The Williams FW44 in 2023 livery
Photo by: Williams
