Atlassian Williams Racing has officially launched its 2025 Formula 1 contender, the FW47, marking a new era for the historic team. The car made its first on-track appearance at Silverstone, completing a 200km shakedown with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon behind the wheel.
This highly anticipated event also served as the first public appearance of Atlassian as Williams’ new title sponsor, a landmark partnership that represents the biggest commercial deal in the team’s 48-year history.
A Bold Debut at Silverstone
Williams hosted a unique live-streamed launch featuring partners, media, and 47 fans selected from over 17,000 applicants worldwide. The FW47 took to the track in a one-off camouflage livery, with the full 2025 race livery set to be revealed on February 18th at the F1 75 Live Launch at the O2 Arena in London.
Team Principal James Vowles reflected on the occasion:
“The first run of the FW47 is the result of tens of thousands of hours of work and a moment of immense pride that symbolises the progress we are making at Atlassian Williams Racing. We rolled out the car at the precise moment we said we would, on live television, with a formidable new driver line-up and a fantastic new title partner in Atlassian. There is a lot to look forward to in 2025 and I can’t wait to go racing next month.”
Carlos Sainz’s First Laps in Atlassian Williams Colours
Carlos Sainz, making his highly anticipated debut for Atlassian Williams Racing, was first to take the FW47 onto the track at 10:05 AM. Despite cold and blustery conditions, Sainz completed his scheduled laps smoothly and gave his first impressions:
Carlos Sainz:
“The first 100 kilometres in the FW47 are done and it has been a smooth day. We managed to complete all the run plan without any issues, and I got my first proper feeling for the car. It was a bold statement from Williams to show the first lap of this new car to our partners, the media, and our fans, and it went very well. Good job to everyone back at Grove – now we’re ready for the season to start.”
Albon took over driving duties in the afternoon and enjoyed a brief spell of sunshine, adding his thoughts on the FW47’s debut:
“I’m really happy. Normally this weather makes the car feel good, and it did today. We won’t know for sure what the car is like until Bahrain, but the car was reliable, and we put on a great show for our partners and fans, so I hope everyone enjoyed that. Roll on Bahrain!”
Technical Insights: What’s New on the FW47?
While teams keep technical details under wraps before testing, Williams engineers have hinted at key performance improvements in the FW47:
- Aerodynamic Overhaul – The FW47 features significant refinements to airflow management, designed to improve downforce efficiency and cornering stability.
- Weight Reduction – Efforts have been made to enhance weight distribution, helping improve tyre wear and overall handling.
- Power Unit Optimisation – While still powered by Mercedes, adjustments have been made to improve reliability and power deployment.
- Cooling & Packaging Upgrades – A more compact sidepod design suggests a focus on better airflow and cooling efficiency, vital for long-distance race performance.
Chief Engineer Dave Robson on the FW47’s Early Performance:
“Today we launched the FW47 at Silverstone and had the opportunity to shakedown the new car and to check that the systems are behaving as intended.
Carlos and Alex shared the driving through the day, and between them were able to complete the permitted 200km without issue. The car ran well and, having completed a few careful laps to check that everything was working correctly, we were able to push the car hard and confirm that there were no major problems. Inevitably, we found a few very minor issues, but these will be quickly resolved before we arrive in Bahrain, and they didn’t affect the running today.
In the cold conditions, and using the Pirelli promotional tyres, it is impossible to assess the performance of the FW47, however, the telemetry and driver feedback suggests that the basic characteristics of the car are very close to expectation and there are no immediate handling concerns.
We now have a few days to use the experience from today to finalise our testing plan for Bahrain. Now that we are confident that the car will run well, we are in a great position to maximise our time in Bahrain and to ensure that we arrive in Melbourne ready to start the 2025 season strongly.”
What’s Next for Williams and the FW47?
Williams will now prepare for pre-season testing in Bahrain, scheduled for February 26-28, before heading to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16.
With a fresh driver pairing and the backing of Atlassian, the team is aiming to continue its steady climb up the F1 grid. James Vowles has stated that achieving a podium in 2025 is improbable but not impossible, signalling an ambitious but measured approach to the season.
Williams’ Recent Performance
- 2023 Season: Williams finished seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, with Albon securing multiple top-10 finishes.
- 2024 Season: The team aimed for consistent points finishes but struggled against an increasingly competitive midfield.
- 2025 Expectations: With the FW47’s upgrades and a strong driver pairing, Williams hopes to challenge for regular Q3 appearances and top-six finishes.
Upcoming Key Dates for Williams Racing
- February 18, 2025 – Full FW47 race livery launch at the O2 Arena, London
- February 26-28, 2025 – Bahrain Pre-Season Testing
- March 16, 2025 – Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne (Season Opener)
Williams Racing 2025 F1 Driver Line-Up
- Carlos Sainz – Joins from Ferrari, looking to help Williams push forward in the midfield battle.
- Alex Albon – Retains his seat for a third consecutive season, having led Williams’ recent resurgence.
The FW47 is now officially on track, and the countdown to the 2025 Formula 1 season is well and truly underway.
