Williams have shown off the eye-catching matte livery that will adorn their FW45 challenger during the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship season.
In a special unveiling ceremony at the company’s Grove headquarters in the United Kingdom, Williams revealed their new look in the presence of the refreshed driver line-up of American rookie Logan Sargeant and incumbent driver Alex Albon – with the team also announcing oil company Gulf as a new sponsor, along with several new partners.
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The team enter 2023 not just with a rookie driver to bed in but a rookie Team Principal as well, with James Vowles moving over from his role as Motorsport Strategy Director at Mercedes to take the reins at Williams, following the departure of Jost Capito and Technical Director FX Demaison over the winter.
Vowles is set to begin work at Grove on February 20, three days before the drivers begin 2023 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.
With the physical Williams FW45 set to hit the track in a Silverstone shakedown on February 13, the team confirmed that they had “taken the opportunity to heavily evolve the sidepod concept” on the new car thanks to “optimising the power unit cooling layout” – Williams continuing with Mercedes power for a 10th consecutive season.
The team also promised that the FW45 would be more aerodynamically efficient than its FW44 predecessor, with modifications to the front suspension layout and major external aerodynamic surfaces also incorporated into the new machine’s design.
Albon – one of 2022’s stand-out performers in his first season with Williams – said: “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 maximise what we get out of the car for 2023, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the FW45 can do. We also welcome new partners to the team this year, so it’s great to have them onboard.”
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US driver Sargeant – who was fast-tracked into the second Williams seat after an impressive rookie campaign in Formula 2 last year, and who’s set to be the first American to compete in F1 since Alexander Rossi in 2015 – added: “I’m really excited for the season to get started after what, for me, feels like a long winter!
“I’m super motivated and we’ve put a lot of hard work in. 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.”
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Williams Racing Chairman of the Board Matthew Savage added: “As Williams Racing continues its transformation, we’re proud to unveil this year’s livery. 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.
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“I am delighted to welcome both new and existing partners to our journey. With our new Team Principal James Vowles joining us later this month, as well as our exciting driver line up of Alex and Logan, Williams Racing will be giving its all in 2023.”
Albon and Sargeant are both set to shake down the FW45 at Silverstone on February 13 under the watchful gaze of Williams ambassador and 2009 world champion Jenson Button, before the team decamp to Bahrain for pre-season testing on February 23-25.
