Williams reveal throwback F1 livery for inaugural Madring Spanish GP

• Williams will celebrate Formula 1’s inaugural race at Madrid’s new Madring circuit with a special white and green livery inspired by its 1981 championship-winning FW07C.
• Carlos Sainz will race in his home city of Madrid for the first time as he prepares to contest his 13th Spanish Grand Prix.
• Williams enters the Madrid weekend with just 11 points in a difficult 2026 campaign, a significant decline from its fifth-place finish and two podiums last season.

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Williams will mark Formula 1’s inaugural race at the new Madring circuit this weekend with a throwback livery inspired by their championship-winning colours of 1981, when Madrid last hosted the Spanish Grand Prix.

The FW48 adopts the white and green colour scheme of the FW07C, which won Williams their second successive constructors’ championship in the year Jarama hosted the Spanish Grand Prix for the final time.

Developed alongside technology and title partner Atlassian, Williams unveiled the one-off livery during a Fan Zone activation in Madrid’s Plaza de Callao, with Spanish star Carlos Sainz present to take the covers off.

In the team’s statement upon the release of the special livery, tribute was paid to Williams’ history and heritage.

“From the engineers who developed the FW07C to the team mates preparing the FW48, the same spirit of innovation, precision and teamwork continues to shape Williams,” said the storied team.

“Our mission to get back to the front of the grid is drawn from, inspired by and informed by everything we’ve done before,” Williams team principal James Vowles said at the launch.

“I am incredibly proud to celebrate that through Atlassian’s special livery, connecting the team we were at Jarama with the team we are becoming today through focused collaboration, improved technological innovation and real creativity.

“The car looks fantastic, and I cannot wait to see it lapping around Madrid.”

Despite being set to contest his 13th Spanish Grand Prix, 32-year-old Sainz will race in Madrid for the first time – the city in which the four-time race winner was born and raised.

Williams have not had the season many anticipated coming into the 2026 era of Formula 1 regulations. Mired at the back of the field, they have only 11 points to their name and are nowhere near the heights of last year, which saw them secure fifth in the constructors’ championship and score two podiums thanks to Sainz.

The British team sits behind the new Audi operation, with Sainz and teammate Alex Albon still searching for Williams’ first points since the latter finished eighth at the Monaco Grand Prix.

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Written by

Jawad Yaqub

An eCommerce Specialist by day and reporting on F1 by night. Jawad is passionate about motorsport, having provided accredited F1 coverage for more than a decade and is a member of the AIPS (International Sports Press Association). Live blogging (almost) every grand prix too since 2014, as well as articles on the Supercars Championship. Also keen on sustainability, photography, collecting vinyl, (trying to) expertly barbeque and learning to Dad.

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