Williams has revealed that its 2027 Formula 1 car will be called the FW50, with the team skipping the expected FW49 designation to mark its 50th season in the sport.
The announcement celebrates a significant milestone for one of the most successful constructors in F1 history, although the team’s current struggles mean there is still plenty of work to do on track.
Williams skips FW49 for special anniversary
Williams offered an early glimpse of its plans for 2027 on Thursday, announcing through social media that its next Formula 1 challenger will carry the name FW50.
The designation is a deliberate departure from the team’s usual naming sequence. Rather than following this season’s FW48 with an FW49, Williams will jump directly to FW50 to commemorate its 50th season competing in Formula 1.
That milestone places Williams in an exclusive group. Ferrari and McLaren are the only other teams to have reached 50 seasons in the championship, underlining the British outfit’s longstanding place in the sport.
The team has used a similar approach before. In 2017, Williams bypassed the FW39 designation and named its car the FW40 to celebrate 40 years since its foundation in 1977.
The FW50 name therefore continues a tradition of recognising the team’s history through its car designations, giving the 2027 challenger particular significance before it has even reached the track.
Williams faces a difficult challenge ahead of its landmark season
While the anniversary provides a reason to celebrate, Williams’ current competitive position offers a less encouraging picture.
Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz are driving the FW48 during the 2026 campaign, but the team has struggled to establish itself among the leading midfield competitors. Williams is currently third from bottom in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of only newcomers Cadillac and Aston Martin.
The team will be hoping that its development programme can deliver a more competitive package for 2027. However, the scale of the challenge means there is no guarantee that the FW50 will bring an immediate improvement in results.
The next season will also represent an important opportunity for Williams to demonstrate that its long-term rebuilding efforts are translating into meaningful progress on track.
Williams’ historic success remains difficult to match
Despite its recent struggles, Williams remains one of Formula 1’s most decorated constructors, with nine Constructors’ World Championships to its name.
Its first title came in 1980, beginning a period in which the team established itself as a dominant force in the championship.
Williams enjoyed its most successful spell during the early 1990s, winning consecutive Constructors’ Championships in 1992 and 1993 before securing another title in 1994. Further championships followed in 1996 and 1997.
The 1997 campaign remains particularly significant because it was the team’s most recent Constructors’ Championship triumph. Jacques Villeneuve won the Drivers’ World Championship that year, with Heinz-Harald Frentzen also contributing to Williams’ success.
Since then, the team has endured a prolonged period away from the front of the grid, despite occasional signs of progress.
The FW50 will therefore represent more than a symbolic anniversary. For Williams, its 50th season is an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable legacy while attempting to rebuild the competitiveness that once made it one of Formula 1’s defining teams.
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Clara Marlowe is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with over 15 years of experience in motorsport journalism, having contributed features to established sports magazines such as Evo, MCN, Wisden Cricket Monthly and other digital outlets.
Clara specialises in human-interest storytelling, focusing on the individuals behind the sport, including drivers, engineers, and team personnel whose roles are often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
At TJ13, Clara contributes long-form features and narrative-driven pieces that explore the personal and professional journeys within Formula 1. This includes coverage of career-defining moments, internal team dynamics, and the human impact of high-pressure competition.
Clara’s work brings depth and perspective to the sport, complementing news and analysis with stories that highlight the people behind the machinery.
Clara has a particular interest in how personal narratives intersect with performance, and how individual experiences shape outcomes across a Formula 1 season.
