Williams launch 2025 F1 car and Carlos Sainz already ‘impressed’ as FW47 unveiled | F1 | Sport
Williams have revealed their 2025 F1 challenger, the FW47, at a promotional event at Silverstone. The Grove-based squad launched their new car with a one-off livery ahead of the F1 75 Live event on Tuesday.
While the new car is an evolution of the 2024 design ahead of next year’s regulation change, team principal James Vowles confirmed that Williams have assessed ‘every bolt’ of the FW46 in designing its successor.
The 2025 challenger took to the track at Silverstone after the reveal, with new signing Carlos Sainz stepping behind the wheel of the new Williams machinery for the first time.
The former Ferrari man enjoyed a lap around a chilly Silverstone circuit before delivering the FW47 safely into the garage.
Sainz’s arrival marks the start of an exciting new era for Williams. The 30-year-old arrives in Grove off the back of the most successful season of his F1 career to date.
He claimed two Grand Prix victories, winning in Australia and Mexico in his final season with the Scuderia.
The Spaniard enjoyed some time in the FW46 in Abu Dhabi, taking part in the post-season test for his new team. “I think the thing that I was most impressed about if I’m honest with you, is just how motivated everyone was,” he said.
“Even at the end of the year, when we all know you went through a tough last few races, a lot of hard work here at the factory, a lot of hard work at the track to get the two cars to keep going after such a bad run of crashes.
“And I found people that were really enthusiastic and very motivated to work [during] those two days, and it’s not easy because in [the] Abu Dhabi test everyone is, after a triple header, very low on energy.
“I’ve done that test with other teams, and I know how tired everyone gets [at] the end of the season at that stage, and I saw [happy] faces everywhere.
“I saw people wanting to participate, wanting to collaborate, wanting to make that test as positive as possible.
“And honestly, I was extremely impressed by that, and I really enjoyed the two days, and it was a perfect way to go into the winter, knowing I have the full backing and I have everyone pushing flat out through the rest of the winter.”
Completing the Williams driver pairing is Alex Albon, who has enjoyed a dominant run against Nicholas Latifi, Logan Sargeant and, to a lesser extent, Franco Colapinto during his time with the team. In Sainz, however, he faces his toughest team-mate since leaving Red Bull.
