Racing
© Lukas Raich
Williams has unveiled a one-off Union Jack-inspired livery for the British Grand Prix, adding red, white and blue to the FW48’s nose and sidepods at Silverstone in a home-race tribute for Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.
The special look will run across more than just the cars. Albon and Sainz will wear matching race suits, while Williams’ trackside team will also use exclusive kit for the weekend as the Grove squad turns its home round into a broader celebration of its British identity.
Silverstone gives the design extra weight for Williams because of the team’s history at the circuit. It was there that Clay Regazzoni delivered Williams’ first Formula 1 victory in 1979, and the team has won eight times overall at the track. Jacques Villeneuve’s 1997 success at Silverstone also marked Williams’ 100th grand prix win.
James Vowles, Williams team principal, said: “We are proud to be flying the flag for the British GP this week. From our first win to our 100th, Silverstone has played host to some of Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s most iconic moments and there is nothing on the F1 calendar quite like the atmosphere of the home crowd here.”
That celebration arrives against a difficult competitive backdrop. Williams heads to its home race eighth in the constructors’ championship with 11 points after a tough weekend in Austria, where both cars were eliminated in Q1, Sainz retired and Albon finished 17th.
Vowles said the team expects to draw on the support around Silverstone all weekend. “Whether watching in the grandstands, supporting at the Fan Zone or cheering us on from home, we really feel the energy of the fans and will be carrying it with us all weekend.”
The home event now matters beyond the visuals for Williams, with the team trying to get back into the top 10 and, according to one summary, hoping to make a significant step forward at Silverstone with a significant upgrade package.