By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 13 January 2023
Williams looks set to be the team kicking off launch season after announcing the earliest launch date so far.
Fans only have to wait until Friday, February 6 to get the first glimpse of a 2023 F1 car with Williams to reveal its FW45.
The team is looking for a fresh start after finishing last for the fourth time in five seasons and slipping from eighth to 10th in the constructors championship.
Thai driver Alexander Albon remains for a second season with the team after recording a trio of points finishes at Australia, Miami and Belgium.
Alex Albon slides through a puddle at the 2022 Candaian Grand Prix. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images
He will welcome Logan Sargeant in the second seat, with the American becoming the latest Williams F1 rookie after replacing Canadian Nicholas Latifi.
Sargeant has been a Williams Academy driver and was a standout in last year’s Formula 2 season, scoring two wins on his way to fourth in the championship.
Behind the scenes Jost Capito is no longer the team principal and despite the team stating it will find a replacement in “due course”(now confirmed as former Mecedes F1 man James Vowles) has been no sign of an announcement yet.
But what is confirmed to arrive on February 6 is the new Williams. The team has completed some major livery changes over recent years since the Martini sponsorship departed with white focused cars in 2019 and 2020, the introduction of a blue rear end in 2021 before going completely blue last year.
The colours of Australia’s newest F1 star Oscar Piastri will race in during his maiden season will be unveiled on February 13 when McLaren takes the covers off the MCL37 at home base.
Piastri joins the team after dominating the junior ranks and being released from his Alpine deal following a contractual saga.
Oscar Piastri’s first F1 car will be unveiled next month. Photo by Carl Bingham / LAT Images
Remaining in the #4 McLaren will be Lando Norris, who heads into his fifth F1 season after being the only non Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes driver to stand on the podium in 2022.
In addition to Piastri replacing fellow Aussie Daniel Ricciardo, another change McLaren must adapt to will be the departure of Andreas Seidl, with Andrea Stella stepping up as team principal this year.
Since 2018, McLaren has returned to its roots racing predominantly papaya based liveries, which have proven popular with fans and many will be keen to see if the look will be continued.
One of the most eagerly anticipated annual launches is held by Mercedes and the latest silver arrows will break cover on February 15.
The team which has dominated the turbo hybrid era hopes its 2023 challenger is the one that re establishes its stranglehold.
After collecting eight straight constructors titles from 2014 to 2021, Mercedes took a step back last year and struggled to come to grips with the troublesome W13 package following a major regulation change.
Mercedes’ famous silver arrows look returned last year. Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images
Despite a number of issues led by proposing restricting the three-pointed star from keeping up with rivals Red Bull and Ferrari, the team eventually closed the gap by the end of the season with George Russell leading home Lewis Hamilton in a breakthrough one-two at Sao Paulo.
Everyone at Brackley will have their fingers crossed the new W14 will be a return to the glory days rather than resemble its predecessor.
Before being slightly underwhelming on track, the W13 left many jaw-dropped on two occasions in the preseason.
After two seasons racing in black, Mercedes made a surprise return to its traditional silver scheme, while even more gasps were made when its unique “no pod” design was unveiled at pre-season testing.
Mercedes knows how to win, put on a show and present an immaculate car, and its upcoming Silverstone launch should be no different.
Red Bull, Haas, and Alfa Romeo are yet to annouce their dates.
Williams – February 6
AlphaTauri – February 11
Aston Martin – February 13
McLaren – February 13
Ferrari – February 14
Mercedes – February 15
Alpine – February 16
For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
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array ( 0 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 37, 'name' => 'F1', 'slug' => 'f1', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 37, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => 'An Introduction to Formula One (F1)
Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing, governed by the Fédération Internationale de l\'Automobile (FIA) and is owned by Liberty Media. The name "Formula One" refers to the set of rules or formula that all cars and drivers must comply with.The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or public roads around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships: one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).The history of Formula One can be traced back to the pre-war Grand Prix racing, which featured open-wheel cars with supercharged engines. The first World Championship of Drivers was organised by the FIA in 1950, following the end of World War II. The first race was held at Silverstone, England, and was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo. The first constructors\' championship was introduced in 1958 and was won by Vanwall.Formula One has seen many changes and innovations over the years, both in terms of technology and regulations. Some of the most notable developments include the introduction of rear-engined cars in the late 1950s, the use of aerodynamic wings in the late 1960s, the adoption of turbocharged engines in the late 1970s, the emergence of electronic driver aids in the late 1980s, the switch to V10 and then V8 engines in the 1990s and 2000s, and the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014.Formula One has also produced some of the greatest drivers and rivalries in the history of motorsport. Some of the most famous names include Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel. Some of the most intense battles for the championship have been between Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s, Senna and Prost in the late 1980s, Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s, and Hamilton and Vettel in the 2010s.Formula One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, attracting millions of fans and viewers worldwide. The sport is also a huge business, involving billions of dollars in revenue and expenditure. The teams compete for prize money, sponsorship deals, and media rights, while the drivers earn millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements. The sport is also influenced by politics, regulations, and controversies, such as doping scandals, espionage cases, safety issues, and environmental concerns.The following is a list of all F1 World Drivers Champions by year, from 1950 to 2020:1950-1959
1950: Giuseppe Farina (Italy) - Alfa Romeo 158, Alfa Romeo1951: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo1952: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari1953: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari1954: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati / Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz1955: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz1956: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Ferrari D50, Ferrari1957: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati1958: Mike Hawthorn (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 246, Ferrari1959: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T51, Cooper-Climax1960-1969
1960: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T53, Cooper-Climax1961: Phil Hill (United States) - Ferrari 156, Ferrari1962: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - BRM P57, BRM1963: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 25, Lotus-Climax1964: John Surtees (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 158, Ferrari1965: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 33, Lotus-Climax1966: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Brabham BT19, Brabham-Repco1967: Denny Hulme (New Zealand) - Brabham BT20, Brabham-Repco1968: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - Lotus 49, Lotus-Ford1969: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Matra MS80, Matra-Ford1970-1979
1970: Jochen Rindt (Austria) - Lotus 72, Lotus-Ford1971: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 003, Tyrrell-Ford1972: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - Lotus 72D, Lotus-Ford1973: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 006, Tyrrell-Ford1974: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford1975: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T, Ferrari1976: James Hunt (United Kingdom) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford1977: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari1978: Mario Andretti (United States) - Lotus 79, Lotus-Ford1979: Jody Scheckter (South Africa) - Ferrari 312T4, Ferrari1980-1989
1980: Alan Jones (Australia) - Williams FW07B, Williams-Ford1981: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT49C, Brabham-Ford1982: Keke Rosberg (Finland) - Williams FW08, Williams-Ford1983: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT52, Brabham-BMW1984: Niki Lauda (Austria) - McLaren MP4/2, McLaren-TAG1985: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2B, McLaren-TAG1986: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2C, McLaren-TAG1987: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Williams FW11B, Williams-Honda1988: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/4, McLaren-Honda1989: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/5, McLaren-Honda1990-1999
1990: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/5B, McLaren-Honda1991: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/6, McLaren-Honda1992: Nigel Mansell (United Kingdom) - Williams FW14B, Williams-Renault1993: Alain Prost (France) - Williams FW15C, Williams-Renault1994: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B194, Benetton-Ford1995: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B195, Benetton-Renault1996: Damon Hill (United Kingdom) - Williams FW18, Williams-Renault1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) - Williams FW19, Williams-Renault1998: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/13, McLaren-Mercedes1999: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/14, McLaren-Mercedes2000-2009
2000: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F1-2000, Ferrari2001: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2001, Ferrari2002: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2002, Ferrari2003: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2003-GA, Ferrari2004: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2004, Ferrari2005: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R25, Renault2006: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R26, Renault2007: Kimi Räikkönen (Finland) - Ferrari F2007, Ferrari2008: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - McLaren MP4-23, McLaren-Mercedes2009: Jenson Button (United Kingdom) - Brawn BGP 001, Brawn-Mercedes2010-2020
2010: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB6, Red Bull-Renault2011: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB7, Red Bull-Renault2012: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB8, Red Bull-Renault2013: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB9, Red Bull-Renault2014: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, Mercedes2015: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, Mercedes2016: Nico Rosberg (Germany) - Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Mercedes2017: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+, Mercedes2018: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Mercedes2019: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W10 EQ Power+, Mercedes2020: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+, Mercedes2021-
2021: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB16B, Honda2022: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB18, Red Bull Power Trains Honda2023: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB19, Red Bull Power Trains Honda2024: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB20, Red Bull Power Trains Honda', 'parent' => 660, 'count' => 3092, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 37, 'category_count' => 3092, 'category_description' => 'An Introduction to Formula One (F1)
Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing, governed by the Fédération Internationale de l\'Automobile (FIA) and is owned by Liberty Media. The name "Formula One" refers to the set of rules or formula that all cars and drivers must comply with.The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or public roads around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships: one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).The history of Formula One can be traced back to the pre-war Grand Prix racing, which featured open-wheel cars with supercharged engines. The first World Championship of Drivers was organised by the FIA in 1950, following the end of World War II. The first race was held at Silverstone, England, and was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo. The first constructors\' championship was introduced in 1958 and was won by Vanwall.Formula One has seen many changes and innovations over the years, both in terms of technology and regulations. Some of the most notable developments include the introduction of rear-engined cars in the late 1950s, the use of aerodynamic wings in the late 1960s, the adoption of turbocharged engines in the late 1970s, the emergence of electronic driver aids in the late 1980s, the switch to V10 and then V8 engines in the 1990s and 2000s, and the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014.Formula One has also produced some of the greatest drivers and rivalries in the history of motorsport. Some of the most famous names include Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel. Some of the most intense battles for the championship have been between Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s, Senna and Prost in the late 1980s, Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s, and Hamilton and Vettel in the 2010s.Formula One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, attracting millions of fans and viewers worldwide. The sport is also a huge business, involving billions of dollars in revenue and expenditure. The teams compete for prize money, sponsorship deals, and media rights, while the drivers earn millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements. The sport is also influenced by politics, regulations, and controversies, such as doping scandals, espionage cases, safety issues, and environmental concerns.The following is a list of all F1 World Drivers Champions by year, from 1950 to 2020:1950-1959
1950: Giuseppe Farina (Italy) - Alfa Romeo 158, Alfa Romeo1951: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo1952: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari1953: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari1954: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati / Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz1955: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz1956: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Ferrari D50, Ferrari1957: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati1958: Mike Hawthorn (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 246, Ferrari1959: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T51, Cooper-Climax1960-1969
1960: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T53, Cooper-Climax1961: Phil Hill (United States) - Ferrari 156, Ferrari1962: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - BRM P57, BRM1963: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 25, Lotus-Climax1964: John Surtees (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 158, Ferrari1965: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 33, Lotus-Climax1966: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Brabham BT19, Brabham-Repco1967: Denny Hulme (New Zealand) - Brabham BT20, Brabham-Repco1968: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - Lotus 49, Lotus-Ford1969: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Matra MS80, Matra-Ford1970-1979
1970: Jochen Rindt (Austria) - Lotus 72, Lotus-Ford1971: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 003, Tyrrell-Ford1972: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - Lotus 72D, Lotus-Ford1973: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 006, Tyrrell-Ford1974: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford1975: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T, Ferrari1976: James Hunt (United Kingdom) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford1977: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari1978: Mario Andretti (United States) - Lotus 79, Lotus-Ford1979: Jody Scheckter (South Africa) - Ferrari 312T4, Ferrari1980-1989
1980: Alan Jones (Australia) - Williams FW07B, Williams-Ford1981: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT49C, Brabham-Ford1982: Keke Rosberg (Finland) - Williams FW08, Williams-Ford1983: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT52, Brabham-BMW1984: Niki Lauda (Austria) - McLaren MP4/2, McLaren-TAG1985: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2B, McLaren-TAG1986: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2C, McLaren-TAG1987: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Williams FW11B, Williams-Honda1988: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/4, McLaren-Honda1989: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/5, McLaren-Honda1990-1999
1990: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/5B, McLaren-Honda1991: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/6, McLaren-Honda1992: Nigel Mansell (United Kingdom) - Williams FW14B, Williams-Renault1993: Alain Prost (France) - Williams FW15C, Williams-Renault1994: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B194, Benetton-Ford1995: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B195, Benetton-Renault1996: Damon Hill (United Kingdom) - Williams FW18, Williams-Renault1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) - Williams FW19, Williams-Renault1998: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/13, McLaren-Mercedes1999: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/14, McLaren-Mercedes2000-2009
2000: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F1-2000, Ferrari2001: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2001, Ferrari2002: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2002, Ferrari2003: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2003-GA, Ferrari2004: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2004, Ferrari2005: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R25, Renault2006: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R26, Renault2007: Kimi Räikkönen (Finland) - Ferrari F2007, Ferrari2008: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - McLaren MP4-23, McLaren-Mercedes2009: Jenson Button (United Kingdom) - Brawn BGP 001, Brawn-Mercedes2010-2020
2010: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB6, Red Bull-Renault2011: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB7, Red Bull-Renault2012: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB8, Red Bull-Renault2013: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB9, Red Bull-Renault2014: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, Mercedes2015: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, Mercedes2016: Nico Rosberg (Germany) - Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Mercedes2017: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+, Mercedes2018: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Mercedes2019: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W10 EQ Power+, Mercedes2020: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+, Mercedes2021-
2021: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB16B, Honda2022: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB18, Red Bull Power Trains Honda2023: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB19, Red Bull Power Trains Honda2024: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB20, Red Bull Power Trains Honda', 'cat_name' => 'F1', 'category_nicename' => 'f1', 'category_parent' => 660, )), 1 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 11, 'name' => 'Latest News', 'slug' => 'latest-news', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 11, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 0, 'count' => 17559, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 11, 'category_count' => 17559, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'Latest News', 'category_nicename' => 'latest-news', 'category_parent' => 0, )), 2 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 2029, 'name' => 'ZZZ-Email', 'slug' => 'email', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 2029, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 2031, 'count' => 8120, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 2029, 'category_count' => 8120, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-Email', 'category_nicename' => 'email', 'category_parent' => 2031, )), 3 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 1683, 'name' => 'ZZZ-My105', 'slug' => 'my105', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 1683, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 2031, 'count' => 2166, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 1683, 'category_count' => 2166, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-My105', 'category_nicename' => 'my105', 'category_parent' => 2031, )), 4 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 2031, 'name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds', 'slug' => 'zzz-rssfeeds', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 2031, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 0, 'count' => 7478, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 2031, 'category_count' => 7478, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds', 'category_nicename' => 'zzz-rssfeeds', 'category_parent' => 0, )),)
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