Formula 1 launches: Williams reveal sleek new car livery and Gulf Oil partnership for 2023 season

Williams unveiled an updated livery for the FW45, adorned with new sponsors such as Gulf Oil; Alex Albon and new teammate Logan Sargeant aim to lift the team standings in 2023 after a dismal five years; Williams also has a new team principal in James Vowles, who starts on February 20

Williams has announced its new livery for the 2023 Formula 1 season after agreeing a new mega partnership with Gulf Oil.

The third team to start the campaign with a launch, Williams showed off its updated blue and red livery adorned with a host of new sponsors at its Grove base, before the FW45 car debuts on track next Monday.

The most notable addition to the livery is the Gulf logo, with the oil company joining other F1 teams after its partnership with McLaren ends in 2022. Many have speculated that the Williams car could feature the famous blue and orange Gulf colours.

“This demonstrates the strength of our brand and commercial offering as we continue our transformation,” said Matthew Savage, Chairman of the Board at Williams.

“Gulf and Williams Racing share a distinguished motorsport heritage and, together, we are making history with this partnership.”

Williams, one of the most successful F1 teams of all time but a backmarker in recent years, has undergone a “transformation” since Dorilton Capital acquired the team from the legendary Sir Frank Williams in 2020.

Alex Albon returns for his second year with the team this year and will partner new teammate Logan Sargeant, the first American F1 driver since 2016.

Williams will also have a new team principal in James Vowles – Mercedes’ respected head of strategy – although he will not be at Monday’s launch as he does not start his role until February 20.

The FW45 will hit the track at Silverstone on Monday, February 13, before pre-season testing begins the following week.

The entire pre-season test is live on Sky Sports F1 from 23-25 ​​February, as is every Formula 1 practice, qualifying and race. The season opener is the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5.

Will the new recruit help Williams end his miserable run?

With 16 world titles, only Ferrari and McLaren have won more titles than Williams – but Grove’s outfit have finished bottom of the standings in four of the last five seasons.

Powered by a Mercedes engine, Williams will aim to leapfrog the field in 2023 after scoring eight points last year and says it has evolved the sidepod concept in this year’s car.

He also says there will be modifications to the front suspension layout and ‘main external aerodynamic surfaces’, while the car will be more aerodynamically efficient than last season’s FW44.

Williams drivers Alex Albon (left) and Logan Sargeant

The task of leading the rebuild is Vowles, while Albon – former Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen – and new team-mate Sargeant form the young driver line-up.

“The team has been working hard over the last year and over the winter to address some key areas of our car, working hard to optimize what we’re going to do with the car for 2023,” said Albon.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the FW45 can do.”

Sargeant, 22, replaces Nicholas Latifi at Williams after finishing fourth in last year’s Formula 2 championship feeder.

He added: “I’m really excited for the season to start after what, for me, was like a long winter! I’m very motivated and we’ve been working hard.

“The car looks amazing and shows the great effort the team has put in over the autumn, so I’m looking forward to starting at Silverstone before going to Bahrain.”

Williams also has a driver academy that includes three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick, who is looking to make his name Stateside this season at Indy NXT.

Williams liveries over the years

Williams car 2019, FW42

2020 Williams car, FW43

Williams 2021 car, FW43B

Williams 2022 car, FW44

What’s new in cars for 2023?

While there is no overhaul of the rules for next year like 2022, there are subtle changes in the rules and cars that teams can take advantage of.

Most notable is the higher ride height. This means lifting the car higher off the ground to reduce the bouncy ‘porpoising’ phenomenon that affected teams – particularly Mercedes – in 2022.

This is done by raising the edge of the floor and the throat, while the edge of the diffuser has also been stiffened. There are also additional sensors to effectively monitor the porpoising.

Although this is largely for safety reasons and is expected to gain time for the team due to the stiffer floor, it may also speed up the field with a higher height which is considered key for the 2023 Red Bull and Ferrari cars.

Other changes in the car are about the prohibitive design such as the rear wing of Aston Martin and the front wing of Mercedes from 2023, and other safety additions.

Roll hoops, for example, have been strengthened after Zhou Guanyu’s dramatic crash at Silverstone last year.