The iconic Williams F1 team has also uncovered its new 2022 car which is based on ground effect aerodynamics. That being said, the car is mostly based on the F1 show car for the 2022 which was showcased last year. The most striking thing about this Williams FW44 is its new blue livery which is an ode to its British heritage. There are shades of red and white as well which point towards the union-jack. This car also features prominent Duracell branding alongside branding of Dorilton Capital, the VC first that took ownership of the team from the Williams family in 2020.
The Grove based team has spent the last decade mostly in the doldrums but signs of revival were first witnessed in 2021 when it managed to come P8 in the constructor's championship ahead of even the Alfa Romeo Sauber team. The team also welcomes Alex Albon who replaces George Russell who moves on to partner Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
Albon returns to F1 after a hiatus of a year where he spent time behind the scenes as Red Bull's reserve driver where he played a critical role in the development of the RB16B that helped Max Verstappen win the world title. He will be partnered with Nicholas Latifii who is now in his third year with the team.
The new Williams car has been inspired by the British union-jack
"It was a great season for us, especially the step from 2020 to 2021. This result, the points and the podium, gave a boost to the entire team. I hope that this boost will show up in the performance of the FW44 this year," said Williams F1 CEO and team principal Jost Capito.
"It feels like a year out and I'm itching to get going - it makes you hungry to get back in a seat. The year out was actually a way to see things from a different perspective, in a way that is not purely focused on the driving side. This is a team that is really on a climb and hopefully we will be able to use what I know to help it on its way," said Albon.
The goal for the team is quite straight forward as will want to improve upon its P8 and take advantage of the new aerodynamic rules and the new F1 budget cap which will help it better compete with big manufacturers like Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.
