Williams launch 2025 F1 car and Carlos Sainz already 'impressed' as FW47 unveiled

Williams launch 2025 F1 car and Carlos Sainz already ‘impressed’ as FW47 unveiled

Williams has officially unveiled their 2025 Formula 1 car, the FW47, at a special promotional event held at Silverstone. The launch took place ahead of the F1 75 Live event on Tuesday, where the team introduced their new car with a unique, one-off livery. The FW47, while an evolution of their 2024 design, is also aligned with the upcoming regulation changes for the next season. Team principal James Vowles confirmed that the development process involved a thorough evaluation of every detail of the FW46, ensuring that no aspect was left unexamined when designing its successor.

After the reveal, the FW47 was taken onto the track at Silverstone, where Williams’ new driver, Carlos Sainz, had the opportunity to drive the car for the first time. The Spaniard, who joined Williams from Ferrari, took the new machine for a spin around the chilly Silverstone circuit before safely returning the car to the garage. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the team with Sainz’s arrival, as he comes off his most successful season in F1 to date. During his final year with Ferrari, the 30-year-old secured two Grand Prix victories, triumphing in both Australia and Mexico.

Sainz had already tested the FW46 in Abu Dhabi, participating in the post-season test for his new team. Reflecting on his experience with Williams, he expressed his admiration for the motivation and energy he found within the team, even at the end of a challenging season. Despite the difficult final few races and the toll it had taken on the team’s morale, Sainz was impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication displayed by everyone at the factory and on the track. He highlighted how, despite the weariness typical of post-season tests, especially after a demanding triple-header, the Williams team remained positive and committed.

“I saw happy faces everywhere,” Sainz said, acknowledging the team’s hard work and energy. He went on to share how enjoyable the two days of testing had been, further reinforcing his confidence in the team’s full support as they head into the winter break and continue pushing for improvements in the coming months.

Joining Sainz at Williams for 2025 is Alex Albon, who has been with the team for some time and established himself as a consistent and dominant performer against teammates like Nicholas Latifi, Logan Sargeant, and, to a lesser extent, Franco Colapinto. However, with Sainz now as his teammate, Albon will face his toughest challenge since leaving Red Bull, as Sainz’s recent success and competitive spirit will provide a higher level of internal rivalry. This sets the stage for an exciting driver pairing for Williams in the upcoming season.