Approaching its half-century milestone in the pinnacle of motorsport, Williams has officially confirmed its grand plans for the 2027 Formula 1 world championship season. The Grove-based squad announced that its 2027 challenger will be officially designated as the FW50, deliberately skipping the FW49 chassis nomenclature as part of a year-long program honoring the team's 50th anniversary.
This historic milestone makes the legendary outfit only the third team in Formula 1 history to reach half a century of active participation on the grid, following closely behind established powerhouses Ferrari and McLaren. Interestingly, skipping chassis numbers is a familiar tradition for the British team, having made a similar numerical jump during its 40th anniversary by transitioning directly from the FW38 to the FW40.
As part of the widespread celebrations planned throughout the year, devoted supporters will also be granted a special opportunity to vote for the livery that the Alex Albon-driven machine will sport at Silverstone. This commemorative livery is scheduled to run exclusively for the British Grand Prix weekend, offering an emotional tribute at their traditional home circuit.
Deep historical ties are etched into the Silverstone asphalt for the famous British squad, boasting a remarkable tally of eight victories at its home venue. Those iconic moments range from their maiden triumph achieved through Clay Regazzoni's brilliant drive in 1979, all the way to their milestone 100th victory delivered by Jacques Villeneuve back in 1997.
The centerpiece of these extensive anniversary celebrations will take center stage at W50 Live, a ticketed immersive exhibition located at 26 Leake Street in Waterloo, London. Running from February 11 to 28, 2027, the venue's location serves as a deliberate nod to the team's humble origins, where founder Frank Williams discovered co-founder Patrick Head working away in a garage beneath a London railway arch.
Through the actor-led theatrical exhibition, visitors will be guided across six distinct themed zones showcasing a breathtaking collection of historic machines from the team's storied past. The lineup on display includes the FW06 as the very first car constructed by Williams Grand Prix Engineering, Nelson Piquet’s 1987 title-winning FW11B, and Nigel Mansell’s utterly dominant FW14B from the 1992 season.
Furthermore, Villeneuve’s title-winning FW19 from 1997 and the record-breaking FW38—in which Valtteri Bottas clocked a blistering 378 kph—will also be showcased alongside a dedicated FW50 show car. Pre-sale tickets for the exhibition will become available exclusively to W Club members on October 26, followed by the general public sale opening on October 29.
Behind the wheel of the FW50 when it hits the track, Carlos Sainz will team up alongside Albon to spearhead the milestone campaign. Albon etched his name into the record books this year by becoming the driver with the most race starts in team history, surpassing Mansell’s previous benchmark of 95 at the Spanish Grand Prix, while Sainz joins an elite club of drivers who have raced for all three outfits to reach 50 years in F1.
"We know what Williams has been capable of in the past, and now it’s our turn to keep building this team back into a winning team," Sainz stated, emphasizing his commitment to the team's future.
Team principal James Vowles highlighted the independent spirit that has defined the squad's remarkable journey since its inception. "It is incredible to think that over 100 F1 teams have come and gone since Frank Williams built this team from next to nothing," he remarked.
Throughout its illustrious history in world championship competition, Williams has amassed nine constructors' world championships, seven drivers' titles, and 114 grand prix victories, with its last constructors' crown secured in 1997. Additional anniversary initiatives, including limited-edition merchandise, a W50 Monopoly set ahead of Christmas, and an exclusive teNeues coffee table book, will further enrich the celebrations in the coming months.
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