Williams Unveils 1981-Inspired Retro Livery for Spanish GP in Madrid

Summary

Williams has unveiled a special retro livery for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, paying homage to their 1981 design. The livery will be featured on their car throughout the race weekend, adding a nostalgic touch to the event. This tribute highlights Williams' history and celebrates their legacy in Formula 1, with the design set to make its debut at the 2026 Spanish GP.

The Full Story

Williams will race the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid sporting a special livery that pays homage to their 1981 championship-winning FW07C car. The design marks Formula 1’s return to the Spanish capital after more than four decades, recalling the last time the sport visited Madrid’s Circuito de Jarama. This one-off livery will be featured on the cars of home driver Carlos Sainz and teammate Alex Albon throughout the weekend.

The retro look draws from the original white, green, and navy blue color scheme of the FW07C, which Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann piloted during the 1981 season. That year, Williams clinched both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, with Nelson Piquet securing the world championship in the FW07C. The modern recreation retains the diagonal green and blue stripes on the rear quarters, though some sponsor logos remain in their traditional colors, a detail noted by Crash.net as slightly detracting from the otherwise faithful tribute.

Williams’ team principal James Vowles emphasized the connection between past and present, stating the team’s current mission to return to the front grid is inspired by the innovation and teamwork that defined the FW07C era. “I am incredibly proud to celebrate that through Atlassian’s special livery, connecting the team we were at Jarama with the team we are becoming today,” Vowles said during the livery’s unveiling at Madrid’s Plaza De Callao. Atlassian, Williams’ title sponsor, collaborated on the design, with CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes highlighting how the team’s history informs its future approach.

For Sainz, the Spanish GP in Madrid holds special significance as his birthplace and the city where he began his racing career. This will be his 13th appearance in the Spanish Grand Prix but his first on the new Madring circuit, a hybrid of street and purpose-built track featuring 22 turns. Both Sainz and Albon are aiming to score points for Williams, who currently sit ninth in the Constructors’ Championship with 11 points, five behind Audi and seeking their first points finish since Albon’s eighth place in Monaco eight races ago.

The 1981 Spanish Grand Prix itself was a tightly contested race at Jarama, with Gilles Villeneuve taking victory and the top five separated by just over a second at the finish. Williams drivers finished just outside the podium, underscoring the team’s competitive legacy in Spain. The retro livery not only celebrates that history but symbolizes Williams’ determination to rebuild and innovate, blending past lessons with current technology as they prepare to tackle the challenges of the 2026 season.

As the Spanish GP unfolds on the Madring, all eyes will be on Williams’ throwback cars, a vivid reminder of their championship heritage and a hopeful signal of resurgence on home soil for Sainz and the team.