Williams announces new 2020 F1 livery reveal date

Williams has announced it will unveil its new Formula 1 livery for the upcoming 2020 season on Friday morning. 

The Grove-based squad will reveal a revised colour scheme that will no longer feature ROKiT branding, after it terminated its title sponsorship deal last month. 

In a video posted on social media on Thursday morning, Williams said it will show off its new livery design at 9am on Friday morning, exactly one week before the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix gets underway. 

The tweet teased reactions to the new livery from drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, as well as Formula 2 frontrunner Jack Aitken, who is to carry out reserve duties for the team this season.

Latifi, who will make his F1 debut this year, said the new scheme was “sharp”, while Russell said it “looks smart”. 

Williams is currently seeking new investment, and possibly a full sale of the team, to help secure its long-term future. 

ROKiT is expected to switch loyalties to Williams’ engine supplier Mercedes for the upcoming campaign.

A Photoshopped image of Williams’ current FW43 car had already been added onto the team’s website without ROKiT logos, with the branding also disappearing from the drivers overalls. 

New images which have since appeared on the official Formula 1 website suggest that Italian coffee brand Lavazza, which is linked to the team through Latifi, will have an increased presence on this year’s car. 

It has been suggested that Williams could return to a dark blue colour scheme that last featured on its cars in 2013 before Martini joined as its title sponsor.