Williams drop the date! FW48's 'striking' new look set to ignite F1s 2026 shake up

 

Williams have officially announced that the FW48 race livery will be unveiled on the 3^rd of February, marking their first full season competing as the Atlassian Williams Formula One (F1) Team. This reveal sits between the private Barcelona test and the Bahrain tests in mid-February.

Ahead of the official livery launch, Williams confirmed they will run a one-off fan designed testing livery during the Barcelona shake down.

Key facts:

• 55,000 votes were cast

• From 162 countries

• The winning design, called “flow state”, will appear only during pre-season testing

This initiative is part of Williams’ push to bring fans “closer than ever” to the team.

Williams enter 2026 with real momentum. They finished 5^th in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, their first best result in nearly a decade. Scoring 137 points, compared to just 17 the year before – a dramatic turnaround. The FW48 is their first car fully branded under the Atlassian Williams F1 Team identity, signalling a new commercial and competitive era. By confirming an early February reveal, Williams position themselves at the front of the 2026 storyline, showing confidence as F1 enters its biggest rules overhaul in years.

Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz have been confirmed by Williams to lead the FW48 launch. Their role in the reveal reflects their status as a formidable driver pairing and shared mission to push Williams back toward the front. As well as their importance in shaping the team’s competitive direction under the new regulations. Both drivers finished inside the top 10 of the 2025 standings, contributing to Williams’ best season since 2017.

Based on Williams’ official announcement and media reporting, fans should expect the team explicitly promising a “striking” and new look identity for the FW48. This follows the fan designed testing livery that drew 55,000 votes from 162 countries signalling a more open, fan engaged brand direction. As they are leaning into a rejuvenated competitive mindset, a more confident public identity and a desire to show that 2025’s P5 finish was not a fluke. The team’s messaging emphasises momentum and ambition as F1 enters its all new regulations era.

Williams’ 2025 season was their best in nearly a decade, finishing fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. The FW48 is designed to capitalised on that progress, adapt aggressively to the 2026 rule set and demonstrate that the team’s upward trajectory is sustainable. The combination of a new identity, a strong driver pairing and a competitive 2025 baseline positions Williams as one of the most intriguing teams heading into 2026.

By Charlie Gardner 

📸 Imagery courtesy of Atlassian Williams Formula One Team