Williams Racing has announced its 2027 Formula 1 car will be designated the FW50, skipping the FW49 nomenclature entirely. This forms part of a year-long programme marking the team’s 50th anniversary in the sport.
The Grove-based outfit will become only the third team in Formula 1 history to reach this significant milestone, following Ferrari and McLaren.
The decision to jump chassis numbers mirrors a similar approach taken for its 40th anniversary, when the team moved directly from the FW38 to the FW40.
Fans will have the opportunity to choose a special livery for the FW50, which will be raced exclusively at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Williams holds a strong record at its home circuit, having secured eight victories there, including its inaugural Formula 1 win with Clay Regazzoni in 1979.
The team’s 100th Grand Prix victory also occurred at Silverstone, achieved by Jacques Villeneuve in 1997.
The centrepiece of the celebrations is ‘W50 Live’, a ticketed exhibition running from February 11 to 28, 2027.
The event will be held at 26 Leake Street in Waterloo, London, a location chosen to reflect the team’s origins.
Frank Williams discovered co-founder Patrick Head working in a garage under a London railway arch, a narrative echoed by the exhibition’s setting.
The ‘W50 Live’ experience is described as a theatrical, multi-sensory journey, guiding visitors through six themed spaces with live actors.
Cars on display will include the FW06, the first chassis built by Williams Grand Prix Engineering.
Other notable exhibits feature Nelson Piquet’s 1987 title-winning FW11B and Nigel Mansell’s dominant 1992 FW14B.
Jacques Villeneuve’s 1997 championship-winning FW19 will also be present, alongside the FW25 from 2003.
The FW25, driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, set a record for the fastest average speed in F1 history, which stood for 17 years.
The FW38, in which Valtteri Bottas recorded 378kph at the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix, will also be showcased.
A show car of the upcoming FW50 will also be displayed at the exhibition.
Tickets for ‘W50 Live’ go on pre-sale for W Club members on October 26, with general sale commencing on October 29.
The 2027 Williams driver lineup will feature Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.
Sainz committed his future to Williams by signing a new multi-year contract on August 19, 2026, having joined the team at the start of the 2025 season.
Albon extended his contract through 2027, with the announcement made on August 18, 2026.
Albon recently surpassed Nigel Mansell’s record for the most starts in Williams history at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix.
Sainz secured two Grand Prix podiums and a Sprint podium during his debut 2025 season with Williams.
His commitment to the team, despite a challenging 2026 campaign, reflects belief in Williams’ long-term project and investments.
Sainz joins Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell as one of three drivers to have raced for Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams.
“I truly believe in the people that form this team, both at the factory and at the racetracks, and the investments and hard work that are happening in the background,” Sainz stated.
Team Principal James Vowles highlighted the team’s independent origins.
“It is incredible to think that over 100 F1 teams have come and gone since Frank Williams built this team from next to nothing,” Vowles commented.
Williams has accumulated nine Constructors’ Championships, seven Drivers’ titles, and 114 Grand Prix victories since its inception in 1977.
The team’s last Constructors’ Championship was secured in 1997.
Other anniversary plans include limited-edition merchandise, a W50 Monopoly set due before Christmas, and a teNeues coffee table book.
Further anniversary events are expected to be announced in the coming months.
