Williams confirms FW48 livery reveal date for 2026 F1 season

Williams has confirmed that the livery for its 2026 Formula 1 challenger, the FW48, will be revealed on 3 February.

The Grove outfit is yet to confirm whether the reveal will be via a release on social media or a launch event with drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon alongside team principal James Vowles.

Williams will also kick off the season with a separate fan-designed livery, which drew in almost 55,000 votes from 162 countries.

After finishing fifth in the constructors' championship and with Sainz securing two podiums for the team in 2025, Williams is eager to continue with the upward trend of performance into 2026. Vowles, who joined as team principal in 2023, was clear ahead of 2025 that the team's focus was on mastering the regulation changes in 2026. “I’ve said this time and time again, it could even be that we drop backwards a little bit in ‘24, but the sacrifice will be worthwhile for that long-term vision of ‘26," he said during the 2024 season.

He also spoke about the upcoming season during an episode of The Vowles Verdict, following Sainz's first podium with the team at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“I think what I’ve said all the way along is [that there are] some positives and negatives for everyone to acknowledge. I’m confident that we, as Williams, will step forward every year, going forward from here onwards.

“That’s important to know – we’re on a good pathway, we’re investing in a good way. [However] There’s a ‘but’. We still have a long way to go. This is one podium, and the giants out there are able to get on the podium every week and win races, and we have a long way to go before we’re able to achieve that.

“And in one year, we won’t fix everything that we need to fix. But my ask of you is to stay with us. I hope what everyone can see is we’re on the right journey – trust the process. There's a lot of good things to come, but be by Williams’ side when it happens.”