Williams will unveil its 2026 livery today together with the new driver pairing of Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon. Here is the time and where to follow the presentation of what the team hope will mark the beginning of a new chapter.
The 2026 car launches continue with Williams, as today, 3 February, it is the turn of the Mercedes-powered British team. Ahead of the highly secret Barcelona tests, the historic outfit gave fans the chance to choose the livery in which Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon would take to the track.
However, the team led by James Vowles was forced to skip the closed-door test session due to several “delays” in the FW48 development programme, according to the official statement. As a result, the 2026 season, eagerly anticipated and announced last year as Formula 1’s so-called “year zero”, does not appear to be starting smoothly for Williams.
The latest issues to emerge are linked to the car’s weight, which reportedly does not comply with the limits set by the regulations. For this reason, James Vowles and his engineers will need to continue working at Grove to find a compromise and deliver a suitable solution for both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.
Williams 2026: the year of a revival?
According to James Vowles, the Grove-based team stopped developing last season’s car very early. The reason was clear: to focus as much as possible on the 2026 project. Despite that strategic choice, the first signs have not been particularly encouraging.
In addition to the issues already mentioned, another significant problem has come to light: the FW48 is said to have failed the crash test on three separate occasions. It is certainly not the ideal way to start a season, even if the year is still long and there is time to turn things around.
Williams: time and where to follow the 2026 presentation
Williams have chosen to unveil the FW48 online, meaning there will be no in-person event as seen with other teams. With the Grove outfit currently dealing with major delays and development challenges, the presentation is expected to be unusual and relatively low-key compared to other 2026 launches.
The launch of the Williams FW48 represents a critical junction for James Vowles’ long-term rebuilding project, as the team looks to move beyond its early development hiccups and prove that its “Year Zero” strategy can actually deliver results on track. By pairing the experienced Carlos Sainz with Alexander Albon, Williams has signaled its intent to be more than just a midfield participant in 2026, though the reported weight and testing struggles suggest the road to recovery remains steep. Today’s digital reveal is as much about restoring confidence within the fanbase as it is about showing off a new livery; the real verdict will only be delivered when the FW48 finally breaks cover in the Bahrain desert.
While the skipped Barcelona tests have cast a shadow over their preparations, the Williams 2026 launch remains a must-watch event to see how the team plans to navigate the technical hurdles of the new F1 era.
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