Williams Racing

The Rise of Williams in F1

Founded by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head in 1977, Williams F1 quickly made a name for itself. Their first car, the FW06, earned the team its first points in 1978, and by 1980, Alan Jones secured the team’s first Drivers’ Championship and Williams won the Constructors' Championship. The team successfully defended the Constructors’ title in 1981, although the Drivers' Championship that year went to Nelson Piquet.

Dominance and Challenges

The 1980s were a golden era for Williams. They switched to Honda engines and went on to win the Constructors' Championships in 1986 and 1987. During this period, Nelson Piquet won the Drivers’ Championship in 1987. However, after Honda’s departure in 1987, Williams faced a few years of struggle with less competitive engines. This changed with the partnership with Renault in 1988, which brought renewed success. Technological innovations like active suspension helped the team dominate in the early 1990s, with Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost winning championships. However, 1994 was a tragic year for Williams when Ayrton Senna tragically lost his life during the San Marino Grand Prix.

Setbacks and Change

After a dominant early '90s, Williams hit a downturn in performance when key figure Adrian Newey left in 1998. Struggling with less powerful engines, the team took time to recover. In the early 2000s, a partnership with BMW brought success, but tensions with the manufacturer led to a change in 2006. From 2014, Williams partnered with Mercedes, which led to podium finishes and even a third-place finish in the Constructors' Championship.

However, Williams faced continued struggles, with 2018 marking one of their worst seasons. After the team was bought by Dorilton Capital, the Williams family officially exited the team. Sir Frank Williams, the iconic founder of the team, passed away in November 2021.

Williams in 2025

The 2025 season marks an important year for Williams as they aim to take a significant step forward. Under the leadership of Team Principal James Vowles, the team is focused on improving its car and organizational structure. The lineup for 2025 is strong, with Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz forming an exciting duo. Sainz made the move from Scuderia Ferrari after losing his seat to Lewis Hamilton, which gives Williams an experienced, race-winning driver alongside the talented Albon.

Williams in 2024

The 2024 season proved to be a challenging year for Williams, with the team finishing ninth in the Constructors' Championship with only 17 points. This was a step back from the previous season. Albon performed well, scoring most of the team's points, but his teammate Logan Sargeant struggled and was replaced by junior driver Franco Colapinto after the Dutch Grand Prix. The team's best result came in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Albon and Colapinto finished in seventh and eighth positions, respectively.

Williams Livery 2025

Williams revealed the livery of their FW47 car during a special event on February 18, 2025, at the O2 Arena in London, celebrating the 75th anniversary of Formula 1. All 10 F1 teams unveiled their liveries at this event, with fans in attendance to witness the new designs.

Which Engine Does Williams Use in F1?

In 2025, Williams will continue to use Mercedes engines. Over the years, Williams has increasingly relied on Mercedes' components, starting with Mercedes power units in 2014. This partnership has allowed Williams to focus on improving the weak points of its car while benefiting from one of the most powerful engines in Formula 1.

Williams F1 News

Stay up to date with the latest news about Williams Racing, including updates on drivers Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz, race results, team announcements, and off-season activities. You can find all the latest on GPblog.com.