2025 Williams Racing F1 Team

[90feet]

Team: Williams Racing
Base: Grove, Wantage, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.williamsf1.com

WCC: 1980 | 1981 | 1986 | 1987 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1996 | 1997

Team principal: James Vowles
Technical director: Pat Fry

Race drivers:
Alexander Albon 23
Carlos Sainz Jr. 55

Chassis: FW47
Engine: Mercedes V6 Turbo

This thread is to discuss the 2025 Williams Racing F1 Team

[90feet]

Wanted to get this thread started because I really think people are overlooking Williams quite a bit. They're obviously not going to be front runners in 2025, and I'm sure their main focus will be on 2026, but with better winter preparations (i.e. not interrupted by implementing a proper ERP system) and a huge driver upgrade, I think they could make a significant step forward. I think we could see them closer to 5th/6th in the WCC.

[Otromundo]

I am happy with Carlos at Williams. As a team, for him and now, it seems the best to me. Here he can evolve the car, the team and can even help/motivate Albon. It can be very interesting and beneficial for all parties involved, including fans. We'll see how far they are able to go.

[Mr Brooksy]

With a much higher quality driver pairing, more money coming in from companies like Santander alongside the existing sponsorship portfolio, and a little more stability back at Grove in preparation for this coming year, I really hope Williams can produce a car that doesn't just make 11th and 12th positions it's hunting ground like Albon had spent a huge amount of time fighting for last year.

However without a confirmed TD and with the recent departure of a key Aero designer, I'm a little worried we cant take the step forward ahead of the likes of Alpine and Aston Martin.

[KimiRai]

Richard Frith former Head of Performance at Alpine has joined Williams as Head of Performance Systems in Jan.25

Tom Starley former Senior Aero Performance Engineer at Red Bull has joined Williams in the same position in Jan.25

Luke Horsfall former aerodynamics surfacing and design engineer joins Williams as a senior aero concept/surfacing engineer

Williams recruitment

[Macklaren]

I'm calling a podium for Carlos in 2025 - you heard it here first!

[JPower]

[JPower]

I think Williams should be pretty decent, at least in the first half of the season. The process issues impacting the car introduction from last year should be ironed out and this is the first car under Pat Fry and Matt Harman, who did pretty well together at Alpine.

Given that they likely won't spend any money on serious development after summer break, they could be anywhere from P6 to P10. Who knows. If they give Sainz a decent car, he'll likely put it where it needs to be.

[90feet]

However without a confirmed TD and with the recent departure of a key Aero designer, I'm a little worried we cant take the step forward ahead of the likes of Alpine and Aston Martin.

Pat Fry is the technical director. Not sure which designer you're referring to, but they've recruited tons of new technical staff members recently, it's not a surprise that some are going to leave.

[lio007]

However without a confirmed TD and with the recent departure of a key Aero designer, I'm a little worried we cant take the step forward ahead of the likes of Alpine and Aston Martin.

Pat Fry is the technical director. Not sure which designer you're referring to, but they've recruited tons of new technical staff members recently, it's not a surprise that some are going to leave.

I think he meant Marc Logan former Head of Aero Design.

[tomazy]

WATCH: FW47 fires up for the first time

This is a whole 45 days befor testing begins. To show how far behind the FW46 was last year, its first fire up was just 12 days befor first test day.

[dren]

Does this team even have an idea yet that Sainz is going to win the WDC?

[JPower]

WATCH: FW47 fires up for the first time

This is a whole 45 days befor testing begins. To show how far behind the FW46 was last year, its first fire up was just 12 days befor first test day.

Would be good to see Williams fully ready for action by Australia. Having all of the factory processes straightened out before 2026 can only be a positive.