Williams are gearing up to celebrate fifty continuous years in Formula 1, joining only Ferrari and McLaren as the third team in the sport to reach this massive milestone. The squad has laid out a busy calendar of special events for 2027 to mark the occasion, paying tribute to a history that includes nine Teams’ Championships, seven Drivers’ Championships, and 114 Grand Prix victories.
The celebrations start right at the beginning of 2027 with 'W50 Live' in Waterloo, London. Billed as the centrepiece of the anniversary, this theatrical and multi-sensory journey will display title-winning cars and iconic memorabilia from the team's past. It traces back to the roots planted just over fifty years ago, when Frank Williams found co-founder Patrick Head working in a garage underneath a London railway arch.
Fans visiting the London exhibition will get to see legendary machines like the FW06, which was the very first chassis built by Williams Grand Prix Engineering. They will also see the dominant FW14B from 1992 that secured Nigel Mansell his crown, alongside the FW38, the machine that still holds the record for the highest speed ever reached by an F1 car at 378kph, set by Valtteri Bottas at the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix. Alongside these classics, a show car of the 2027 challenger will debut the FW50 designation, with the team skipping straight from the FW48 just as they skipped from the FW38 to the FW40 during their fortieth anniversary.
Looking further into the calendar, supporters will get a direct say in picking the car livery for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The circuit holds immense history for the squad, having hosted Williams' very first F1 victory in 1979 with Clay Regazzoni, as well as their 100th race win with Jacques Villeneuve in 1997. A string of limited-edition merchandise and collectible drops featuring a commemorative W50 logo are also in the works, with more moments slated for announcement later.
Reflecting on the journey, Williams Team Principal James Vowles stated, “It is incredible to think that over 100 F1 teams have come and gone since Frank Williams built this team from next to nothing with a determination to race and win against motorsport’s powerhouses. That independence, passion and relentless will to win remain in our DNA as we enter our 50th year. Our celebrations will reintroduce the heroes and stories that have forged Williams’ legacy to a new generation of fans, who will carry us forward to reach new heights.”
F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali added, “It is incredible to celebrate 50 years of Williams in Formula 1. Sir Frank Williams built one of the defining teams in our sport, founded on determination, resilience and an uncompromising desire to succeed. Those values continue to inspire the team today as it writes the next chapter of its remarkable story. Williams is not only a vital part of our history, but of Formula 1’s identity, with achievements, memories and moments that will forever hold a special place in our sport.”
