2024 Williams F1 car reveal: Albon expects 'big difference' from FW46

Williams has revealed the livery for its 2024 F1 car — the FW46 — which features a familiar combination of new-era blue with traditional Williams navy which adorned many of its winning cars from the 1990s.

It also showcases larger logos for leading sponsors MyProtein, Komatsu and Gulf Oil as well as a Duracell-themed airbox.

“To me, this car signifies where we have been and where we’re going,” said team principal James Vowles. “It’s got a nod back to Frank and back to our history, along with some top class sponsors that have become part of our journey.

The updated colour scheme was shown on a version of last year’s car, but Vowles and his drivers spoke about the forthcoming FW46. Alex Albon said that the philosophy of the car has been changed slightly, which will require a both drivers to adjust their driving style.

The new car is a key step in the team’s bid to return to the front of the F1 grid, although Vowles continued to support his view that rebuilding the team remains a long-term target and that last year’s seventh-place finish in the constructors’ standings means little to him.

“We’ve done a good job, not a great job. We’re not going to achieve excellence in one year, but we will get there because the perseverance, the belief, the passion is at the highest level I’ve ever seen.”

Albon will once again be looking to lead the team after having arguably his best F1 season yet in 2023. The Thai-Anglo driver finished an impressive 13th in the drivers’ standings and scored 96.8% of the Grove outfits points — leading to the team’s best finish in the constructors’ standings since 2017.

“I think this car is going to be such a big difference in driving style and general performance,” said Albon. “It was tricky last year as we were so focused on the championship so we couldn’t [concentrate] too much on 2024. We won’t really know [what performance is like] until we hit the ground in Bahrain but generally it’s been a good car to drive.”

Logan Sargeant will line up alongside him having signed a one-year extension with Williams after a tough rookie campaign.

“This car is going to be very different to last year so to now have a reference for everywhere I’m going to go is such a huge advantage,” he said. “The driving style will need to change but we’re already doing that on the simulator and it feels like a nicer car to drive.

2023: The first step toward resurgence? 

Despite its highly successful heritage, Williams has become an almost permanent feature at the back of the F1 grid. But last season showed the first signs of a possible resurgence.

The addition of James Vowles as the surprise successor to Jost Capito as Williams’ team principal in 2023 proved fruitful for the Grove marque, as it achieved its best result in the constructors’ standings since 2017.

The point scoring began as early as Bahrain where Albon finished an impressive tenth after qualifying 15th. After a spell of underperformance in a highly competitive midfield, Williams bounced back in Canada, led again by the Thai-Anglo driver who finished a brilliant seventh. Two races later, Albon finished in the points again on home turf at Silverstone and his continued point-scoring success at Zandvoort, Monza, COTA and Mexico City were key markers in a season to remember.

Conversely, rookie driver Logan Sargeant struggled in his debut F1 season — failing to score any points at all until the United States Grand Prix in October. Nevertheless, he was given unyielding support from his team principal, who sympathised with the Amercian’s lack of opportunity to prepare for racing in motorsport’s top echelon. Instead of heavily critiquing Sargeant’s performance as he DNF’d from five of the final 12 rounds, Vowles instead encouraged his development and claimed to have seen enough to warrant a contract extension for 2024.

2024: Hoping for more

Speaking at the team’s pre-season launch, team prinicpal James Vowles reaffirmed his belief that Williams could take a step back in the constructors’ standings if it resulted in better long-term success. They may not be the words Williams fans want to hear but Albon and Sargeant nevertheless seem optimistic about the new season.