Williams has rolled out a striking retro-inspired livery for the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, paying homage to the look they sported the last time Formula 1 raced in Madrid back in 1981. That year, the championship visited Jarama, a circuit that hosted the Spanish GP 11 times between 1967 and 1981, before the brand-new Madring circuit took over this season.
The classic white-dominant design, accented with green and black, has been modernised for the occasion. The diagonal green and blue stripes across the rear quarter remain a faithful nod to the original, though the decision to keep Barclays and Komatsu logos in their traditional colours slightly dilutes what is otherwise one of the better retro recreations of the modern era.
A Collaboration with Atlassian
This special livery was created alongside title partner Atlassian. Team principal James Vowles explained the deeper meaning behind the design: "Our mission to get back to the front of the grid is drawn from, inspired by and informed by everything we've done before. 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 through focused collaboration, improved technological innovation and real creativity. The car looks fantastic, and I cannot wait to see it lapping around Madrid."
Mike Cannon-Brookes, Co-Founder and CEO of Atlassian, added: "The best teams don't put their history in a trophy case. They wire it into the work. That's the whole idea behind this livery, and it's how we think about building software: the knowledge a team builds over years should actually make tomorrow's decisions faster, not just look good on a wall."
A Legendary 1981 Race
The 1981 Spanish GP at Jarama produced one of the closest finishes in F1 history. Gilles Villeneuve took victory for Ferrari, ahead of Jacques Laffite (Ligier) and John Watson (McLaren). Carlos Reutemann finished fourth for Williams, with Elio de Angelis fifth. Remarkably, the top five were separated by just 1.24 seconds at the chequered flag.
With points only awarded down to sixth place, Lotus driver and future Williams world champion Nigel Mansell grabbed the final point, albeit 28 seconds behind the leaders. This retro livery serves as a fitting tribute to that intense era of street-circuit racing in Madrid.
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