Here is something you do not see every day in the paddock: Williams trading their traditional blue for the trademark black and green of Doctor Doom. The team pulled the cover off this stunning, villain-inspired machine at New York Comic Con, bringing Formula 1 straight into the Marvel Universe with an FW48 show car accompanied by matching race suits and exclusive merchandise.
While neither Alex Albon nor Carlos Sainz will actually pilot the machine on track, fans heading to the United States Grand Prix can inspect the livery up close at the Williams Fan Zone in Austin. The setup forms part of an immersive experience celebrating the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film.
This crossover goes far beyond a single show car. Back in April, Williams announced that Albon, Sainz, and Team Principal James Vowles would make their comic book debut in a special one-shot titled Iron Man: Racing Towards Doom. Written by Ethan Sacks with artwork by Greg Land, the 32-page story pitches the trio against Doctor Doom alongside iconic heroes like Iron Man, Black Widow, and Captain America. The comic is set for a wider US release on October 21.
The partnership has spanned the entire 2026 season with limited-edition comic book covers at races including Miami, Monaco, Great Britain, Spain, and Singapore, plus upcoming editions for the United States and Las Vegas. Williams ID members have even received a digital badge to mark the occasion.
Dr Miriam Kent, Lecturer in Film and Media at the University of Leeds, notes that the collision of sports and superhero publishers has deep roots stretching back decades. She also highlighted the natural thematic bridge between Formula 1 engineering and the high-tech machinery of the Marvel universe, pointing to historical tie-ins like Iron Man's famous association with Audi.
Following its debut at New York Comic Con—held from October 8-11, where visitors could snap up one of 2,000 exclusive convention-cover comics or enter a competition to win a Marvel-inspired race suit—the show car is heading to Texas. The Williams Fan Zone in downtown Austin will display the machine from October 19 to 24. Visitors can also grab a special Austin edition of the comic, with appearances scheduled for Albon, Vowles, reserve driver Luke Browning, and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill.
