Williams reveals launch date for 2021 FW43B Formula 1 car
Williams has become the latest team to announce the launch date for its 2021 Formula 1 car, confirming plans for its unveiling next month
In a post on its social media channels on Friday, Williams announced that it would be launching its new car - which will be called the FW43B - on 5 March.
The announcement was also accompanied by a clip of the new car being fired up for the first time.
Get this date in your diaries ?️ pic.twitter.com/4L77IC0HPi
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) February 5, 2021
It makes Williams the fifth team to formally announce its launch plans ahead of the new season, following McLaren, AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo and Mercedes.
Williams is currently slated as the final team to hold its launch event, one week before the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain, when drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi are set to get a maiden extended run-out in the car.
2021 will mark Williams' first full season under new ownership following its acquisition by American investment fund Dorilton Capital last August, and the exit of the Williams family.
Despite team founder Sir Frank Williams' departure, the announcement confirmed the new owners will be sticking with the existing nomenclature for the cars that feature his FW initials.
The freeze on development for much of the car designs from 2020 to 2021 has prompted some teams to adjust their naming plans, with Williams becoming the latest to revive the B-spec tag.
It will be the first B-spec Williams to race in F1 since 1995, when the team introduced the FW17B at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Williams will head into the 2021 season aiming to build on an improved 2020 campaign that saw it regularly battle with lower-midfield rivals Alfa Romeo and Haas, making a step forward on the previous year.
Although the team finished last in the constructors' championship for the third season in a row and failed to score any points, it was often in contention on the fringes of the points.
Mercedes junior Russell was a particular stand-out performer for the team, regularly getting through to Q2, while Latifi finished 11th on three occasions in his rookie season.
F1 2021 - Confirmed Launch Dates
15 February - McLaren
19 February - AlphaTauri
22 February - Alfa Romeo
2 March - Mercedes
5 March - Williams
Previous article
How F1's new boss is shaping the championship's future
Next article
From the archive: How Williams's last F1 title challenge unravelled
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Teams | Williams |
| Author | Luke Smith |
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
