Williams to let fans vote on 2026 pre-season testing livery

Williams Racing will let its global fanbase decide the livery for its 2026 car's first public appearance at pre-season testing. The team has unveiled six distinct blue-themed designs for fans to vote on, marking a direct engagement move as it builds on a resurgent 2025 season.

Why it matters:

This fan vote represents a significant shift in team-fan interaction, moving beyond merchandise and social media into a core element of team identity—the car's look. For Williams, a team on a rebuilding path, it capitalizes on renewed fan enthusiasm and makes supporters feel like active participants in the team's journey back to competitiveness.

The details:

• The vote, running from December 9 to 16 on the team's website, presents six options: 'Blue Horizon', 'Future Force', 'Generation Next', 'Midnight Velocity', 'Flow State', and 'Apex Predator'.
• The winning livery will adorn the FW48 chassis when it hits the track for the first time at pre-season testing in Barcelona, kicking off the sport's new technical era.
• Team Principal James Vowles highlighted the growing fan support seen throughout 2025, a season where the team scored two Grand Prix podiums, as inspiration for the move.

The big picture:

This initiative is more than a marketing stunt; it's a strategic engagement play. By involving fans in a tangible decision, Williams strengthens community loyalty at a pivotal moment—the start of F1's new 2026 regulations. It acknowledges the role of fan energy in the team's recent progress and seeks to harness it for the future.

What's next:

Once the voting closes, Williams will unveil the fan-chosen livery ahead of the 2026 pre-season test. The selected design will not only define the car's initial look but will also serve as a symbolic banner for the team and its supporters as they enter the next chapter of Formula 1.