In pictures: Williams showcase FW48 livery after missing Barcelona testing

After a long wait, the Grove-based outfit have finally unveiled the car livery that will take part in the upcoming season.

The team led by James Vowles had made the conscious decision to skip the entire Barcelona test week in order to arrive better prepared for the first of the two Bahrain sessions, following delays in finalising the project that partially disrupted the team’s plans.

The team is now ready to make up for lost ground, with next week set to mark the first real official test, after the Montmeló running was held behind closed doors and served more as a shakedown for teams to validate their respective projects rather than a true performance-focused benchmark.

“The most striking evolution of the livery comes from the introduction of white across the sidepod, front wing and rear wing — injecting energy and movement into the design and amplifying the presence of our partners across the car,” the team shared.

The white and blue colour scheme is broken up by a sweeping black section running through the car, framed by a red-and-white keyline — a hallmark of championship-winning Williams machines such as Mansell’s FW14B and Hill’s FW18, which marks its 30th anniversary this year.

Williams’ decision to sit out the Barcelona test may have caused frustration, but the team’s drivers remain firmly behind Vowles.

Asked about the reaction inside the camp after it was confirmed that Williams would not run in Spain, the ex-Mercedes boss said both Sainz and Albon are fully aligned with the reasoning behind the call, recognising the bigger picture the team is pursuing by operating at the very edge.

Addressing a small group of journalists, including GPblog, Vowles said: “They [the drivers] stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me. They're clearly – as I am – disappointed. They're racing drivers; they want to be out there testing the car, and whilst they're in our driver in-loop simulator in tandem now to increase that programme, it isn't the same.”