1 day ago
The Williams F1 team's special livery for the Spanish GP weekend has raised some eyebrows on social media, considering the colours it is running that had links with the Bin Laden family.
Williams showed its special livery for the F1 Spanish GP at Madring, going back in time to use the colours that they ran aboard the FW07, which was driven in various versions between the 1979 and 1982 F1 seasons. They modelled the colour used in the 1981 Spanish GP – the FW07C.
They raced at the Jarama circuit, with the car driven by Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann. The colour was linked to sponsorship from Saudi Arabia's Saudia Airlines and Albilad. Having started its journey in 1977 in Formula 1, Williams got sponsorship from the Middle East first in the 1978 F1 season.
The team ran as Albilad-Saudia Racing Team in 1979, which continued through to 1981. In the 1980 and 1981 seasons, they had one car with the Albilad Williams Racing Team name, while the second car ran under a different sponsor. The Albilad sponsorship continued until 1983, even though it didn't appear in the name.
The Saudia sponsorship lasted until 1984, after which Williams got the famous Canon sponsorship. The contentious name of 'Bin Laden' that fans are vocal about on social media pertains only to the 1979 F1 season, the first time the British outfit got backing from Saudi Arabia.
#williams #albilad #laden
Williams showed its special livery for the F1 Spanish GP at Madring, going back in time to use the colours that they ran aboard the FW07, which was driven in various versions between the 1979 and 1982 F1 seasons. They modelled the colour used in the 1981 Spanish GP – the FW07C.
They raced at the Jarama circuit, with the car driven by Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann. The colour was linked to sponsorship from Saudi Arabia's Saudia Airlines and Albilad. Having started its journey in 1977 in Formula 1, Williams got sponsorship from the Middle East first in the 1978 F1 season.
The team ran as Albilad-Saudia Racing Team in 1979, which continued through to 1981. In the 1980 and 1981 seasons, they had one car with the Albilad Williams Racing Team name, while the second car ran under a different sponsor. The Albilad sponsorship continued until 1983, even though it didn't appear in the name.
The Saudia sponsorship lasted until 1984, after which Williams got the famous Canon sponsorship. The contentious name of 'Bin Laden' that fans are vocal about on social media pertains only to the 1979 F1 season, the first time the British outfit got backing from Saudi Arabia.
#williams #albilad #laden
