Manufacturing Biz #2 - Magazine - Page 34
Williams Racing reveals new long-term
partner Komatsu in pole position
W
illiams Racing has unveiled new
livery and new partners for the
car that will be driven by Alex
Albon and Logan Sargeant in the upcoming
2024 season. The striking blue livery, which
links Williams’ championship-winning
heritage with its mission to return to the
front of the grid, was revealed in the heart
of New York City at PUMA’s Flagship store
on Fifth Avenue.
Williams Racing also proudly announced
a new multi-year Principal Partnership
with Komatsu, a leading manufacturer
of construction, mining, forestry, and
industrial heavy equipment. Komatsu is
rekindling its relationship with Williams
having enjoyed a successful partnership
in the 1980s and 1990s, which included
supplying gearbox components for the
title-winning 1996 and 1997 cars.
Williams Racing’s multi-year partnership
with Komatsu is a statement moment for
the team as it continues to strengthen
on and off the track. This partnership
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proudly reignites a previous long-standing
relationship forged in the 1980s and 90s
during one of Williams Racing’s most
successful eras in Formula 1 so far. Over
that period Komatsu provided expertise
and technology to Williams, including
gearbox parts for the
Championship-winning FW18 and FW19
cars. Both Williams and Komatsu will
rekindle their legacy at a pivotal time in the
sport to build a new era of success together
in 2024 and beyond.
The Japanese manufacturing giant is
renowned as a world-leading company
that manufactures and sells construction
and mining equipment, utility equipment
(compact machines), forest machines,
industrial machinery and others. Komatsu
and Williams Racing share deep-rooted
values of collaboration, resilience,
excellence and authenticity through their
innovation of cutting-edge technology to
drive performance and results.
M A N U FA C T U R I N G B I Z M A G A Z I N E | A P R I L 2 0 2 4
Komatsu’s logo will feature prominently on
the FW46 driven by Alex Albon and Logan
Sargeant, as well as driver overalls and
Williams Racing team kit.Komatsu is the
latest partner to join the team’s long-term
mission to return to the front of the grid. In
recent days the team also welcomed data
platform provider VAST Data as an Official
Partner as Williams continues to build
momentum heading into 2024.
Understanding the wealth of data F1 cars
produce is critical to on-track success,
and VAST Data's expertise in managing
and processing large datasets can help
optimise the team's performance.
These new partners follow a series of
major additions announced in the second
half of 2023, including THG – through its
Myprotein and Ingenuity brands – and
PUMA. January also saw an announcement
of an extended power unit relationship
with Mercedes-Benz, who will continue to
supply engines to the team for 2026 and
beyond.