The British team will sport a design inspired by the FW07C, champion of 1981. The livery, which evokes the last F1 race in the Spanish capital, seeks to connect the team's history with its ambitious future project.
Formula 1 returns to Madrid after more than four decades and Williams has wanted to celebrate it in style. The British team presented a special livery for the Spanish Grand Prix that pays tribute to its glorious past. The design that Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon will wear throughout the weekend at the new Madring circuit is inspired by the colors of the FW07C, the car with which the team competed in the last race of the category in the Spanish capital in 1981.
The livery combines white, green and navy blue in a direct nod to the design carried by Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann at the Jarama Circuit. Williams has wanted to highlight that this initiative is not just an exercise in nostalgia, but a statement of intent: "From the engineers who developed the FW07C to the team members who prepare the FW48, the same spirit of innovation, precision and teamwork continues to shape Williams" the team explained in a statement.
The design was unveiled during an event with Carlos Sainz at Callao Square in Madrid, an emblematic location in the city that will see the local driver compete for the first time in his homeland. For Sainz, the Madrid Grand Prix has a special meaning, it is the stage where he was born, grew up and began his career in motorsport. According to Carlos Sainz, the car looks fantastic and he can't wait to see it running through Madrid.
James Vowles, the team principal, explained the meaning of this initiative: "Our mission to return to the top of the grid is inspired, nurtured and informed by everything we have done before. I'm incredibly proud to celebrate it through the special Atlassian livery, connecting the team we were in Jarama with the team we are becoming today through focused collaboration, enhanced technological innovation and real creativity" he stated.
The debut of the special livery comes at a crucial moment for Williams. The team, which last year achieved a meritorious fifth place in the constructors' championship, is going through a complicated season. It currently occupies ninth position with only 11 points, five behind Audi and far from the expectations generated after the 2025 season. The last time they scored points was at the Monaco Grand Prix, where Albon finished eighth, eight races ago.
The team hopes that the new design and the momentum of the Madrid debut will serve as a catalyst to reverse the situation. The need to score points is pressing and both Sainz and Albon are aware that the team needs a boost to regain confidence. Madring, a new circuit for everyone, could be the perfect stage for a resurgence.
Williams' special livery is a reminder that history and tradition can be a source of inspiration for the future. The British team, which has gone through moments of glory and deep crisis, seeks in its past the motivation to return to the elite. The combination of nostalgia and ambition is the message Williams wants to convey with this unique design that will undoubtedly be one of the protagonists of the weekend in Madrid.
