Is Williams Racing Set for a New Identity in 2026?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Williams Racing will be rebranded as Williams F1 Team in 2026.
- The team has a rich history with nine Teams' Championships and 114 Grand Prix wins.
- Major changes in chassis and power unit rules are coming next season.
- James Vowles is leading a revitalization of the team under Dorilton Capital.
- Williams aims to connect its legacy with a bold future.
New Delhi, Nov 3 (NationPress) Williams Racing will transition to Williams F1 Team starting next season as part of a significant overhaul of the historic British team's identity.
Based in Grove, this team is celebrated as one of the most accomplished in Formula 1 history, boasting nine Teams' Championships—ranking them third overall—along with seven drivers' titles and 114 Grand Prix victories.
Under the ownership of Dorilton Capital and the leadership of James Vowles, Williams is actively undergoing a rebuilding phase and is on track to finish an impressive fifth in the teams' standings this year, having amassed 111 points—more than their total from the last seven seasons combined.
With major new chassis and power unit regulations coming into effect next season, Williams has chosen to update their team name, which they assert “links the team's remarkable legacy to its ambitious future,” along with the redesign of their team logo.
The current “W” logo will be “superseded by a modern reinterpretation of (team founder) Frank Williams' iconic 'Forward W', initially presented in 1977, the year of our inception.”
Vowles commented, “I am thrilled that from next year we will be recognized as Atlassian Williams F1 Team and display a logo on our vehicle inspired by our founder, Sir Frank Williams, closely tied to our decades of success.
“As a team, we draw inspiration from our past but are enthusiastic about our future, committed to crafting a new Championship-winning chapter in the history of Williams. This enhanced team identity embodies who we are, our direction, and reintroduces our title-winning legacy to a growing F1 audience that may not have witnessed our previous dominance.”
Alex Albon is experiencing his most competitive season since 2020, currently ranking eighth in the drivers' standings, while his teammate Carlos Sainz secured Williams' first podium since 2021 with a remarkable third-place finish in Baku.
Leading into this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the team holds fifth place in the standings, 39 points ahead of Racing Bulls, with four Grand Prix weekends remaining—two of which will feature Sprints.