Williams Racing Unveils 2023 F1 Car Livery
Williams Racing revealed the livery of their upcoming 2023 Formula 1 car, the FW45, at a dedicated event held at their Grove factory. The livery was showcased on an FW44 model, which was described as an "evolution" of the previous one and features new branding for Gulf International, a new partner for Williams after its deal with McLaren ended at the conclusion of the 2022 season.
The livery for the FW45 bears a resemblance to the colors used by the team in the 2022 season, with a matte finish on the upper surfaces, unlike the all-black carbon-fiber approach used last year to meet F1's minimum weight requirements. The livery features prominent diamond shapes and flashes of red and blue, which embody the exciting new era of Williams Racing under its new ownership by Dorilton Capital.
Williams board member James Matthews and Gulf CEO Mike Jones were present at the launch event, along with drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant and 2023 Indy NXT driver Jamie Chadwick, who remains part of the Williams driver academy. Williams board chairman, Matthew Savage, said, "We are excited about this year's car, and I cannot thank the entire team at Grove enough for their hard work to get ready for the season. I am delighted to welcome both new and existing partners to our journey."
The 2023 challenger from Williams is claimed to be more aerodynamically efficient than the FW44 with improved downforce and handling characteristics. The car will hit the track for the first time in a shakedown event at Silverstone on Monday, February 13.
Alex Albon, who will be starting his second year with the team, said, "The car looks great and will hit the track at Silverstone. The team has worked really hard last year and over the winter to address some key areas in our car, putting in the work to try and maximize what we get out of the car for 2023, so I'm looking forward to seeing what the FW45 can do."
Logan Sargeant, the new driver for Williams, expressed his excitement for the season, saying, "The car is looking amazing and it shows the huge effort the team has put in the off-season, so I'm looking forward to getting started at Silverstone before heading out to Bahrain."
The recent appointment of James Vowles as team principal, following the release from Mercedes, will bring a new level of experience and expertise to Williams. Vowles will officially start working for the squad on February 20.
With the unveiling of the new livery, Williams Racing is ready to take on the challenges of the 2023 Formula 1 season. The new car, the new driver line-up, and the new partnerships have everyone at the team feeling optimistic about the future. The team and its fans are eagerly waiting for the car to hit the track and see what it can do.