News Summary

Williams will run a special livery at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, drawing inspiration from the FW07C that carried the team to the 1981 Constructors’ Championship.

Unveiled on Tuesday (8), the design features predominantly white bodywork with green and navy elements, recreating the colour palette of Williams’ 1981 challenger. The FW07C was part of the successful FW07 family and was the last Williams car to race in Madrid, when Formula 1 visited the Jarama circuit in 1981.

The tribute comes as F1 returns to the Spanish capital for the first time since 1981. This time, however, the championship will race at the new MADRING circuit, which makes its F1 debut this weekend, September 11-13.

The occasion will have particular significance for Carlos Sainz, who was born in Madrid and will contest his first Formula 1 race in the capital. The Williams driver has already unveiled a special helmet inspired by the first design he used in karting in 2005. Sainz brings back his first karting helmet design for the Madrid race.

Williams connects past and present

James Vowles, Williams’ team principal, said the special livery reflects the team’s history while also representing its ambitions for the future.

“Our mission to return to the front of the grid is built on, inspired by and guided by everything we have done before. I’m immensely proud to celebrate that with the special Atlassian livery, connecting the team we were at Jarama with the team we are becoming today — through focused collaboration, enhanced technological innovation and genuine creativity,” Vowles said.

“The car looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to see it racing around Madrid.”

The FW07C represents one of the most successful periods in Williams’ history. The FW07 and its evolutions were ground-effect cars that helped establish the Grove-based team as a leading force in Formula 1.

Williams won the 1981 Constructors’ Championship with Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann, although Reutemann narrowly missed out on the Drivers’ title by a single point to Nelson Piquet.

The team has therefore chosen a significant piece of its heritage for its return to Madrid, linking one of the defining cars of its early success with the beginning of a new era for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Williams arrives in Madrid under pressure

The historic celebration comes at a difficult moment for Williams on track.

The Grove-based team enters the Spanish GP ninth in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship with 11 points. Sainz has scored six, while teammate Alexander Albon has five, leaving them 16th and 17th respectively in the Drivers’ standings.

Williams has struggled to match its 2025 form under the new 2026 technical regulations, making the Madrid weekend an important opportunity to turn its home-country spotlight into a stronger result.

Sainz has nevertheless reaffirmed his commitment to the team’s long-term project after signing a multi-year extension. Sainz has backed Williams’ rebuild despite its difficult 2026 campaign.

The Spanish GP will also mark the first official F1 race at MADRING. The 5.416-km circuit features 22 turns and combines public-road sections with purpose-built areas around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre.

Formula 1 returns on September 11-13 for the Spanish GP, the 14th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover the entire Madrid weekend, with all the latest news and action from practice, qualifying and the race.

FAQ

Why is Williams using a special livery in Madrid?

Williams is celebrating its return to Madrid with a design inspired by the FW07C, the car that represented the team during its successful 1981 campaign and was the last Williams to race in the Spanish capital.

When did F1 last race in Madrid before 2026?

Formula 1 last raced in Madrid in 1981 at the Jarama circuit, 45 years before the championship’s return to the Spanish capital. The new MADRING venue hosts its first F1 Grand Prix in 2026.

How is Williams performing in the 2026 F1 season?

Williams is ninth in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship with 11 points. Carlos Sainz has six points and Alexander Albon has five.