FW43B

Lore & Background

The FW43B was introduced in March 2021, with its first shakedown in February 2021 at Silverstone with George Russell and Nicholas Latifi. Roy Nissany drove the car on the first day of pre-season testing (March 12, 2021) and also during the first practice session of the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix. The car's livery pays homage to Williams' successful past and to Sir Frank Williams, who founded the team but left it after the 2020 Italian Grand Prix. The FW43B is the first car to compete in a full season without the Williams family managing the team. At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, both Latifi and Russell retired after contact with Nikita Mazepin and Valtteri Bottas respectively. The team scored their first points of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Latifi and Russell finishing 8th and 9th on the road, respectively, before being promoted one place up each following Sebastian Vettel's disqualification. At the next race in Belgium, Russell qualified 2nd and was classified 2nd after a rain-shortened race, while Latifi was classified 9th, giving Williams their first podium since the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Three races later in Russia, Russell qualified 3rd and finished 10th, which proved to be his last points finish for Williams and Williams' last point for the rest of the season.

In Their Own Story

The garage at the Red Bull Ring buzzed with a different kind of energy than it had for months. The FW43B sat under the lights, its revised rear wing and floor geometry gleaming in the Austrian evening sun. Alex Albon climbed into the cockpit, feeling the familiar weight of the helmet but sensing a new potential beneath him. As he pulled out onto the grid, the air felt different; the car responded with a precision that had been missing since Bahrain. It wasn't just a race anymore; it was a redemption arc written in carbon fiber and downforce.

Reader's Guide

The FW43B was driven by George Russell and Nicholas Latifi throughout the 2021 season. Roy Nissany also drove the car during pre-season testing and in a practice session. The car represented a strong step forward in qualifying and race pace compared to its predecessor, with Russell regularly challenging for top 10 qualifying positions. The team finished 8th in the Constructors' Championship.

Did You Know?

• The FW43B's livery pays homage to Williams' successful past and to Sir Frank Williams.
• The FW43B is the first Williams car to compete in a full season without the Williams family managing the team.
• At the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, Russell qualified 2nd and was classified 2nd after a rain-shortened race, giving Williams their first podium since the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
• The FW43B scored its first points at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, with Latifi and Russell finishing 7th and 8th after Sebastian Vettel's disqualification.