News Summary
- Williams will name its 2027 Formula 1 car FW50, skipping FW49 to mark its 50th anniversary.
- Fans will choose a special one-race livery for Silverstone, although the voting process has not yet been announced.
- The team will stage W50 Live in London from February 11–28, featuring historic cars and a show car representing its 2027 challenger.
Williams has confirmed that its 2027 Formula 1 car will be called the FW50, skipping the expected FW49 designation to celebrate the team’s 50th anniversary, while giving supporters the opportunity to choose a special livery for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The Grove-based organisation announced a year-long programme of celebrations on Thursday, October 15, including a major exhibition in London, historic Formula 1 machinery, exclusive events and opportunities for fans to participate in the anniversary.
The FW50 will be driven by Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon, whose contracts for 2027 have already been confirmed. The team will reveal a show car during its London celebrations, although the final racing specification has not yet been presented.
Williams becomes only the third Formula 1 team to reach 50 consecutive years in the championship, following Ferrari and McLaren.
Why Williams is skipping the FW49 name
The decision to name the 2027 car FW50 follows a precedent established by Williams during its 40th anniversary.
In 2017, the team skipped the FW39 designation and introduced the FW40 to commemorate four decades in Formula 1.
The same approach will be repeated next year, with the current FW48 succeeded directly by FW50.
The designation is part of a wider celebration of Williams’ history, which includes nine Constructors’ Championships, seven Drivers’ Championships and 114 Grand Prix victories.
The team began competing under the Williams Grand Prix Engineering identity in 1977, establishing itself as one of Formula 1’s most successful independent constructors.
Williams team principal James Vowles said the anniversary represents an opportunity to introduce the organisation’s achievements to a new generation while maintaining its ambition to return to the front.
“It is incredible to think that over 100 F1 teams have come and gone since Frank Williams built this team from next to nothing,” Vowles said.
The British team principal highlighted the independence and determination that have characterised Williams throughout its history.
“That independence, passion and relentless will to win remain in our DNA as we enter our 50th year,” he added.
The anniversary arrives during an important period for Williams, which has been attempting to rebuild its technical infrastructure and recover from a difficult start to Formula 1’s new regulatory era.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO examined in its analysis of Williams’ 2026 difficulties, the team struggled with an overweight car and aerodynamic limitations despite concentrating substantial resources on the new regulations.
Fans will choose Williams’ Silverstone livery
One of the most distinctive elements of the anniversary programme will be a special design for the 2027 British Grand Prix.
Williams confirmed that supporters will have the opportunity to select the livery used by Sainz and Albon at Silverstone.
The design will be used for one race only, rather than replacing the team’s regular colours for the entire season.
However, Williams has not yet announced the voting options, the date when voting will open or the mechanism supporters will use to make their selection.
The decision to involve fans reflects the importance of Silverstone in the team’s history.
Williams secured its first Formula 1 victory at the circuit in 1979, when Clay Regazzoni won the British Grand Prix.
The venue also hosted the team’s 100th Grand Prix victory, achieved by Jacques Villeneuve in 1997.
In total, Williams has won eight Grands Prix at Silverstone, including three victories by Nigel Mansell.
The team’s 1991 British Grand Prix victory remains particularly memorable because Mansell gave Ayrton Senna a lift back to the pits after the Brazilian retired.
The anniversary livery will therefore connect the current Williams team with some of its most successful moments at its home circuit.
Williams brings legendary F1 cars to London
The centrepiece of the celebrations will be W50 Live, an exhibition running from February 11 to 28, 2027, at 26 Leake Street in Waterloo, London.
The event will feature a theatrical presentation of the team’s history alongside championship-winning cars and memorabilia.
Among the confirmed exhibits are the FW06, Williams Grand Prix Engineering’s first car; the FW11B, which carried Nelson Piquet to the 1987 Drivers’ Championship; and the FW14B, which dominated the 1992 season with Nigel Mansell.
The exhibition will also include the FW19, driven by Jacques Villeneuve during his 1997 championship campaign, and the FW25, which established a Formula 1 average-speed record that stood for 17 years.
Another highlight will be the FW38, associated with Valtteri Bottas’ 378km/h speed record at the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix.
A show car representing the FW50 will also appear at the exhibition, giving supporters an early opportunity to see the anniversary identity before the new Formula 1 season begins.
The location itself carries historical significance. Frank Williams first encountered future co-founder Patrick Head while the engineer was working beneath a railway arch in London, and the anniversary exhibition will take place beneath the arches of Waterloo.
Tickets for W50 Live will go on pre-sale to Williams W Club members on October 26, followed by general sales on October 29.
The team has also announced opportunities to win tickets and attend the FW50 launch through its official channels.
Sainz and Albon target Williams recovery in anniversary season
Williams will enter its anniversary year with continuity in the cockpit.
Albon extended his contract for 2027 in August, securing a sixth consecutive season with the team.
The Thai driver has become Williams’ longest-serving competitor by Grand Prix starts, surpassing Mansell’s previous team record.
Sainz subsequently confirmed his own contract extension, allowing Williams to maintain the same experienced line-up for the new season.
The Spaniard described the anniversary as an opportunity to recognise the team’s achievements while continuing the rebuilding process.
“We know what Williams has been capable of in the past, and now it’s our turn to keep building this team back into a winning team,” Sainz said.
He acknowledged that returning Williams to the front would not be straightforward, but expressed confidence that the organisation could make further progress in 2027.
Albon also welcomed the celebrations, saying it would be an honour to represent the team during such an important year.
Williams’ immediate focus remains improving its current car. The team introduced significant changes at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including weight reduction and aerodynamic revisions.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported after the Baku upgrades, Sainz reached Q3 and scored a point, although the team acknowledged that further development would be required to improve its competitiveness consistently.
The FW50 will therefore represent both a historic anniversary and another stage in Williams’ effort to become a regular contender near the front of Formula 1.
When will Williams unveil the FW50?
Williams has confirmed that a show car representing its 2027 challenger will feature at W50 Live in February, but has not announced the precise date of the FW50’s full launch.
The team is also planning a separate launch event, with opportunities for supporters to win attendance.
The special British Grand Prix livery will be chosen later in 2027, with further information about the voting process still to be released.
Formula 1 returns at the United States Grand Prix in Austin on October 23–25, where Williams will continue evaluating its 2026 development programme. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover the team’s preparations and the championship through its Formula 1 coverage.
