Williams was pressured to desert plans to disclose its 2021 Method One automotive by way of an augmented actuality app after it was hacked and pictures leaked on-line.

As an alternative, Williams launched its new automotive by releasing pictures of the FW43B, its automotive for the upcoming F1 season. The crew has opted for a model new look — predominantly blue with streaks of white and yellow — for 2021, the primary 12 months below the possession of Dorilton Capital.

Williams had deliberate to launch by way of its personal specially-created app at 1400 GMT on Friday. Nevertheless, pictures have been circulated on social media within the morning.

The crew hoped the reveal would have allowed followers to offer followers the possibility to see the automotive up shut by way of their cellular system or pill.

The AR app would have additionally featured drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi in a digital press convention an hour later. Nevertheless, the hack additionally pressured Williams to cancel that.

In a press release, the crew stated: “Williams Racing deliberate to disclose its 2021 challenger, the FW43B, by way of an augmented actuality app later at the moment (fifth March). Nevertheless, sadly, as a result of the app was hacked previous to launch, it will not be potential. Now we have subsequently eliminated the app from each the Apple App Retailer and Android Google Play retailer.”

Claire Williams, daughter of crew founder Frank, stepped away from her controlling function of the crew final 12 months after its sale.

Jost Capito has been put in as CEO. He stated the brand new automotive had been painted in a method which highlights the success of the crew’s previous.

“Williams Racing is a sporting icon, and a crew that has solid a repute of success by sheer dedication and grit intertwined with innovation, passionate and skilful race-craft and an absolute want to win,” he stated. “Highs and lows are typical in any long-established sporting model’s journey and historic success could be a sturdy motivator, but it surely can’t be relied upon to outline future success within the fashionable period of Method One.

“Due to this fact, we now have created a contemporary new livery for the 2021 automotive; one which acknowledges our unimaginable previous and retains the spirit, drive and motivation that continues to be on the core of Williams’ DNA but seems to be to the long run and signposts our long-term ambition to return to the entrance of the grid. While we’re simply beginning out on this journey and there’s nonetheless loads of work to do, we’re pleased to see momentum in the correct path and look ahead to persevering with that progress on monitor this season.”

The F1 season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 28.