FW 44 is introduced along with a new driver, Alex Albom, on the team.
GROVE, England—Along with Ferrari and McLaren, Williams has been long recognized in Formula 1 racing. The team was recently bought by Dorilton Capital, an American investment firm, after the late Sir Frank Williams and his daughter Claire decided to sell the team. The Williams name has remained as a sign of respect for the former owners.
And on Tuesday, the Grove-based, England squad launched its new 2022 challenger with a new livery, one returning driver in Nicholas Latifi, and a familiar face–Alex Albom–who will replace George Russell, who migrated to Mercedes.
The car didn’t have to travel far for its debut because Silverstone is less than an hour’s drive from Williams’s home base in Grove. There, the FW 44 was on display, and Tuesday’s program was revealing. Compared to the cars already launched over the past week, the FW 44 has a different side pod and nose design, and the new livery includes a different color, which is dark blue with a lighter blue and red shades. Blue is the traditional color of the Williams car.
Joe Capito, Williams’s Team Principal: Over its history, Williams Racing has shown great strength and sophistication. The new visual identity of the 2022 car perfectly encapsulates these characteristics that the staff, drivers, and fans have demonstrated time and time again. The FW44 highlights the transition to the future and acknowledges the timeless qualities that make us who we are. Looking forward, we want to build on this success, and the FW44 perfectly embodies these ambitions to return to the front of the grid.
But the big question remains to be answered: Can Williams challenge the top teams in the field? That hasn’t been the case recently, but speculation abounds as the teams prepare for the 2022 season, mindful that new regulations are in place to enhance competitive racing.
