Williams has revealed its new livery and title sponsor for the 2019 F1 season.
The Grove-based team has a new look following the arrival of Rokit as title sponsor. They replace previous title sponsor Martini and join another new Williams backer for 2019, Polish petrochemicals company PKN Orlen.“We spent quite a lot of time on this livery,” explained Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams.
“It was all done in-house, we have a very good creative team. I wanted a livery that told story about where Williams is and the future we think it has.
“Williams’ traditional colours are navy blue and white. But I wanted to move away from that. I wanted to show the world we are a fresh, revitalised brand.”
Video: Williams reveals 2019 F1 livery and title sponsor
Pictures: Williams reveals 2019 F1 livery and title sponsor
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hahostolze (@hahostolze)
11th February 2019, 15:12
A quick Google of ROKiT turns up absolutely nothing…
Lums (@lums)
11th February 2019, 15:14
All I found was ‘vintage clothing’
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
11th February 2019, 15:14
i’m pretty sure its Jack black’s new startup
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
11th February 2019, 15:19
Really hard to find good info. Looks like a cell phones brand.
I can’t understand how McLaren rakes tons of triple A sponsors and Williams has a title sponsor with only “coming soon” products.
tonyyeb (@tonyyeb)
11th February 2019, 15:22
One the first page of a Google results page: https://rokitphones.com/
Not sure what everyone else was using for search criteria?!
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2019, 15:52
I guess (I’d even bet, if I was a betting person) that website has hit a peak of first visits today @tonyyeb, @m-bagattini, @francorchamps17, @asanator, @hahostolze!
Who knows, maybe the sponsorship deal has already paid for itself with that alone :-)
Also, I am with you guys hoping that Williams did their due dilligence and got the sponsorship money up front!
tonyyeb (@tonyyeb)
11th February 2019, 15:54
@bascb I’m reliably* informed that due diligence is something that F1 teams rarely do these days and just jump into bed with the biggest pot of money wafted under their noses…
*Not reliable at all
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
11th February 2019, 15:58
@tonyyeb in 2003 I stopped looking after the first Google results page. In 2019 I stopped looking after the first result :D
I was referring to the difficulty in finding information about the Company, not their website or their products, more where it comes from and do they have the money to support Williams.
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2019, 16:14
Well, I guess since the first four (or so) results at Google are now either what Google sells directly, or companies paying them to be high up, I guess we can hardly hold it against a newer company to not appear right up @m-bagattini
ColdFly (@)
11th February 2019, 16:02
Which is a new brand of ROK Brands (http://www.rokbrands.com/).
And guess what they have an energy drink, are looking for distributors, and undoubtedly also the biggest competitor of Red Bull ;)
Hans Herrmann (@twentyseven)
11th February 2019, 16:37
@coldfly I particularly like their Irish whiskey, made in Wolverhampton : )
William Jones
11th February 2019, 20:24
So many pages, so many products that can’t be bought anywhere… anyone else getting that Rich feeling about them?
AmericanF1
11th February 2019, 17:41
The parent company is ROK Global: http://www.rokglobal.com/en/index.html
Francorchamps (@francorchamps17)
11th February 2019, 15:13
Lol another shady title sponsor (Rokit hasn’t released a product yet), seems like a trend this year!
Asanator (@asanator)
11th February 2019, 15:17
Indeed!
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
11th February 2019, 15:18
F1 is in a bad way if these are the title sponsors
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
11th February 2019, 15:44
Panama and Cayman Island are going to lose more clients to F1.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
11th February 2019, 20:33
@ruliemaulana: The Pinnacle of Motosport Money Laundering
sam3110 (@sam3110)
11th February 2019, 15:14
White, electric blue and black, interesting, though I’d prefer some of PKN Orlen’s red on there too, especially as ROKiT use red in their logo
xman
11th February 2019, 23:02
Yea, Orlen logo should be red.
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
11th February 2019, 15:15
I do like the livery – especially if, as in the video, the ‘black’ is just naked carbon fibre
BasCB (@bascb)
11th February 2019, 15:53
I agree, it’s a nice shot at a livery. Simple lines, I like showing “naked” carbon fibre too.
Nitzo (@webtel)
12th February 2019, 6:43
@bascb @hahostolze
Is it me or do those front wings look bigger than those of STR’s ?
BasCB (@bascb)
12th February 2019, 14:17
I guess that is more the lighting and angles of the pictures than what it will look like when you actually see both cars out on track @webtel
Nitzo (@webtel)
13th February 2019, 11:07
@bascb
Agreed. Cant really judge with a few pics.
I guess we’ll know in a week’s time.
BasCB (@bascb)
13th February 2019, 11:09
By now, that might be a tad optimistic on account of Williams struggling to get their car out on track though @webtel!
Nitzo (@webtel)
13th February 2019, 11:19
@bascb
ha ha. Yeah. i just read about it.
I don’t want to be George Russell right now. Here’s hoping they don’t miss out a lot.
Antz (@antznz)
12th February 2019, 0:33
Oh yeah. Wasn’t sure at first (I think it was the whilte/blue transition) but didn’t take long to grow on me.
Hakk the Rack
11th February 2019, 15:15
https://www.rokit.co.uk? Vintage Clothing | Retro Clothing | Rokit Vintage Clothing?
Asanator (@asanator)
11th February 2019, 15:18
https://rokitphones.com/
Hakk the Rack
11th February 2019, 15:19
I’m better now, thanks. Those clothes wrrrrrrr…..
Matthew Nowell (@diogenese)
11th February 2019, 15:17
https://rokitphones.com/
Barely exists, like rich energy!
BaKano (@bakano)
11th February 2019, 16:19
But ROKiT at least seems to be more serious. They were present at CES 2019 and the founder is the same guy behind Patrón tequilla (when it became famous at least), so it is a guy that still makes business.
Nevertheless really weird the way F1 sponsorship is going…
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
11th February 2019, 16:51
I like the description on their website: “ROKiT is starting a revolution as the first company to pair vital life services with high-quality, affordable phones. We connect you to the people you love, and the services you need, to live a better life.”
We connect you to the people you love, and the services you need… just like any other smartphone I suppose!
William Jones
11th February 2019, 20:46
Give them their dues, they are the first company to think that people will flock to a social media site that automatically dox them by mapping all it’s users publicly….
Jon (@jonw)
11th February 2019, 15:18
Rokit phones
https://rokitphones.com/
https://twitter.com/rokitofficial
Stan57
11th February 2019, 15:21
Little bit of the ROK background in this report. Bigger in the US. Looks like new to the UK market which may explain a Williams sponsorship…
https://www.pcmag.com/news/365842/rokit-has-the-wildest-phone-lineup-at-ces
Rick D. (@partsguy20)
11th February 2019, 15:25
I like it! The more I look at it the blue reminds me of the streaks of blue/teal that Mercedes has used for a couple of seasons, but it’s still sharp looking in my opinion. It’ll look good fighting for last place next to McLaren’s papaya orange… :-)
(All kidding aside, I hope Williams doesn’t have a repeat of their dreadful 2018 season. I want Kubica to do well in his return!)
Jere (@jerejj)
11th February 2019, 15:26
Not bad although I still prefer last season’s livery color scheme.
wobs
11th February 2019, 15:26
Cool livery, lets hope the car goes like a “rockit” eh….. :)
Marshall Matthews (@hove9)
11th February 2019, 15:32
ROKiT phones are ‘launching soon’ (https://rokitphones.com) and Haas have £30m sponsorship from a drinks company that is barely off the ground yet. All sound, sensible financial footings for F1 this season!
BaKano (@bakano)
11th February 2019, 16:20
@hove9, with tobacco making a comeback (Ferrari more visible since last year, McLaren with BAT returning) and now having start-up companies that are not yet in business becoming title sponsors, it seems shaky…
just.daz (@nemo87)
11th February 2019, 15:35
It needs a bold line of colour to separate the blue and white.. doesn’t look right faded in like that :/
Todfod (@todfod)
12th February 2019, 4:28
@nemo87
Agree. Blurs really don’t work. Clean cut colour sections would have looked better. It all just looks too messy for me. Prefer their previous liveries
just.daz (@nemo87)
12th February 2019, 8:38
It doesn’t look finished at all!
Pedro Andrade
11th February 2019, 15:35
Not bad, but looks a bit… backmarkerish… A bit 1990s Tyrrell… Hope this is not sign.
Arrows98 (@arrows98)
11th February 2019, 18:26
agreed! looks good, but definitely more than a hint of Pacific Lotus…
Pedro Andrade
11th February 2019, 19:44
Yes, that vibe of backmarkerish
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
11th February 2019, 15:38
At first glance Rokit logo looks like one of the gas lighter brand. I thought Williams going the same theme with Ferrari and McLaren… But then I found out it was a cell phone brand that no one ever seen…
MB (@muralibhats)
11th February 2019, 15:42
Looks quite dull. Maybe high res photos may help.
MB (@muralibhats)
11th February 2019, 15:45
I mean closeup
kpcart
11th February 2019, 15:43
Apparently they sponsor the Houston rockets in the nba.
BaKano (@bakano)
11th February 2019, 16:15
Indeed they do…
Big sponsorship deals is a way to get your start-up noticed BUT you’re also “burning” money fast…
dbHenry
11th February 2019, 16:33
Launched in August of 2018 as a subsidiary of ROK Brands, ROKiT is a challenger cell phone startup. Reflecting its end-user values of connectedness, well-being and security, ROKiT offers a variety of “humanity-first” IO Collection cell phone bundles: feature-laden, cutting-edge phones that include access to free telemedicine, pharmacy discounts, family legal services and other lifestyle-enhancing offerings at prices that make them affordable for everyone.
ROKiT is a humanity first telecommunications business that offers consumers state-of-the-art mobile handsets and bundled services at an unbeatable value. As part of the ROK Group of Companies, ROKiT has been founded by business innovator John-Paul DeJoria (John Paul Mitchell Systems, Patron Tequila, John Paul Pet), and Jonathan Kendrick (British entrepreneur). ROKiT’s core innovation is the brand’s unique combination of device and service offerings brought to market at aggressive, attention-getting price points. ROKiT pledges to provide connection, health, and security for all.
ROK Brands was founded by seasoned business innovators John Paul DeJoria and Jonathan Kendrick and includes ROK Drinks (ABK Beer, Real Irish Whiskey, and Bogart’s Spirits, among others). Headquartered in the United Kingdom and Southern California, ROK Brands offers a diverse portfolio of products that improve the lifestyle of mankind around the world.
NBA Jersey Logo sposorship deals range from $2.5 Million US to $20 Million US annually.
erikje
11th February 2019, 18:29
and about Kendrick:
JCLab
12th February 2019, 17:05
ROK Brands was founded by seasoned business innovators John Paul DeJoria and Jonathan Kendrick and includes ROK Drinks (ABK Beer, Real Irish Whiskey, and Bogart’s Spirits, among others). Headquartered in the United Kingdom and Southern California, ROK Brands offers a diverse portfolio of products that improve the lifestyle of mankind around the world.
ABK beer logo is also seen on the middle side of the FW42. :)
ABK in Martini out. ;-)
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
11th February 2019, 15:43
Looks like one of those default liveries you have in iRacing. Not a pretty design, IMO. The colours are good tho! reminds me of the williams cars from the late 2000s.
Jorge Lardone (@jorge-lardone)
11th February 2019, 15:44
Really ugly. One of the worst I remember. I hope the car is not as scary as his painting. Wlliams is a team respected by all the fans of formula 1.
Xcm
11th February 2019, 19:33
Speak for yourself.
Jorge Lardone (@jorge-lardone)
11th February 2019, 22:43
You too…
wayne (@waynedru78)
11th February 2019, 15:45
so far im not overly inthused with these launches a wildly waste of money imo there are last years cars with dev front wings and a new paint job either as less paint aspossible (williams ) blatently copying an iconic brand (hass) and same old same old with red bull 2 sorry (torro rosso), what is the point might as well wait untill testing safe bucket load of money and unvail the whole thing at the track.
kpcart
11th February 2019, 15:46
This is getting bad for f1, so far we have rich supporting haas, rokit supporting Williams, mission wiinow supporting ferrari and British American tabacco supporting mclaren… Sounds like money laundering and just plain dirty money deals. F1 needs to ban dirty corporate sponsorship.
kpcart
11th February 2019, 15:49
Torro rosso just showed their car with red bull all over it, looking like a red bull car and nothing likes it’s company nMe torro rosso. another disgusting corporation that hurts people with their harmful product
dbHenry
11th February 2019, 16:38
ROKiT is a challenger cell phone startup.
Why is this so terrible for F1? And so terrible for the NBA?
William Jones
11th February 2019, 20:53
Their last financial report shows them 500 million in the hole, with profit coming solely from past contracts from a wound up business. They claim in the report that their new app will be their focus for 2018…
Having a keen startup company is fine, this one seems to be a money losing outfit. Money losing outfits that seem to keep going year after year have a strong association with money fraud.
HUHHII (@huhhii)
11th February 2019, 15:48
Benetton light – less colours, fat and soul for your enjoyment!
Dutchguy (@justarandomdutchguy)
11th February 2019, 15:54
You’re just describing the late benetton models themselves. The B200 and B201 look like all soul has been sucked out of the livery already and the latter is a very bulky car as well….
Dutchguy (@justarandomdutchguy)
11th February 2019, 15:54
could be worse….
could be a lot better though. Looks like they took some clues from NIO’s FE colour scheme
GeeMac (@geemac)
11th February 2019, 15:54
As a lifelong Williams fan, I am very glad that the team have been able to land a title partner and I am not too offended by the livery, though I don’t think it quite works when viewed head on.
The thing that does bother me however is the fact that the team can no longer attract the sort of blue chip/household name partners which it used to in the not too distant past (other than Unilever/Rexona).
Luke S (@joeypropane)
11th February 2019, 15:54
Wow, really is the year of the dodgy title sponsors, eh?
Gonna be a lot of bad press coming out over the testing period in relation to these deals, I feel it in mah loins!
Coanda (@ming-mong)
11th February 2019, 15:56
“We spent quite a lot of time on this livery,” explained Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams.
Looks like they spent half a day coming up with that…
Simeon Simeonoff (@simeonoff)
11th February 2019, 16:03
Haha, I hope that’s not relative to the time they spent working on the car :D
TomD11 (@tomd11)
11th February 2019, 16:40
Yeah that line made me double-take too. I bet you could knock up something pretty close on MS Word in about 20 minutes. I don’t know whether I’m angry at the terrible effort or disappointed by what Williams has become.
Robert
11th February 2019, 16:46
This livery is sadly a thumbs down for me. Firstly, I’m no fan of basically not painting the lower half of the car. I get that they are camouflaging important aero parts that way, but it just looks boring. But worse, the fade between blue and white looks too much like a school project in digital design where someone finally understood how to use the paint brush and then used that for everything. It’s precisely the wrong size fade that makes it look very cheap. It would have looked better with either a larger smoother fade, or just a sharp edge. At least to me. On the positive side, the choice of color is great. I hope they do better this year.
Adam (@rocketpanda)
11th February 2019, 17:16
I have no idea what Rokit is but I really quite like the colours.
SPIDERmaN (@spiderman)
11th February 2019, 17:19
not worried about the car but a bit unsure about Kubica…not sure if it was right for him to come back to F1..
xman
12th February 2019, 12:47
And i am worried about George Russell if he is ready for F1 or is he another Vandoorne
nase
11th February 2019, 17:24
Neato. Finally, a livery that looks adequately tacky for a backmarker.
Also, Ro…what?
Chris_F1
11th February 2019, 17:28
Looks like a XL size toothpaste tube…hahahaha! Awful!
Stephen Higgins
11th February 2019, 17:44
Shafts of Manor but without the red.
Doesn’t scream ‘Williams’ to me at all …
JC
11th February 2019, 17:59
Shame the blue of the Rexona part seems to have some Rokit dandruff. Awkward!
Not a strong livery, shame.
Jake (@chamonik)
11th February 2019, 18:14
Could be better… but could be worse too…
Reminded me something at first glance: Ligier JS17 (1981)…
MaliceCooper
11th February 2019, 18:23
Rothmans Royals?
Todfod (@todfod)
12th February 2019, 5:16
Rothmans had a navy blue colour associated with it IIRC. This colour scheme doesn’t match it.
petebaldwin (@petebaldwin)
11th February 2019, 18:25
I actually really like that. Not sure why but I think it’ll look good on track and with Kubica behind the wheel, I’m rooting for Williams this year!
Suffering Williams Fan
11th February 2019, 19:06
Don’t like the livery, but maybe it will grow on me. The thing that bothers me a little more as a Williams fan is this…
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06253633/filing-history
4th October accounts filing… I have no business/accounting expertise whatsoever, but how is a company with £32,225 of assets and £39.1 million of liabilities the title sponsor of an F1 team?
petebaldwin (@petebaldwin)
11th February 2019, 20:39
That’s just one of many many similarly named companies. On that link, if you click on “people” you find James Lee Kendrick who is director of 75 companies – most of which are called ROK___…….
JayMcG (@jaymcg)
11th February 2019, 19:14
Don’t like it at all. They spent a lot of money on this livery? I could have done better for free. No wonder Williams are looking for GT Sport livery makers for their E Sports team.
All the best to them though.
n0b0dy100
11th February 2019, 19:16
I like it, but it does remind me of some kind of mid-field ‘90s team.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
11th February 2019, 19:18
I quite like the livery, or rather, I don’t dislike it. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing spectacular either. Would’ve been nice to see something else than just black at the lower part of the car (maybe simple white and blue?).
hobo (@hobo)
11th February 2019, 20:09
Need to see it in the sun before I have a real like/dislike opinion.
That said, it doesn’t look like it took time to design. Maybe this is why it takes so long for Williams in-season development cycles.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
11th February 2019, 20:38
Brand? I remember when they were a racing team. Now Williams is a racing ‘brand’?
The last independent team on the grid, now the last semi-independent branding exercise.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
11th February 2019, 21:29
I’m very surprised that F1 teams have a sponsorship problem. It caters to a global audience and as far as I know is an elitist sport in the sense that the people who follow F1 are on average much wealthier than the average person.
Any international luxury brand should be delighted to be able to advertise in Formula 1. Billions of folks now know about Haas, Kimoa, Dekra, Petronas, and even Oris since this is article is about Williams.
If anything, companies should be fighting over sponsorship to get the attention of the folks who follow F1. It’s hard to believe what’s going on with Ferrari, Haas, McLaren and now Williams.
Toxic
11th February 2019, 22:41
Love it. I might even considering getting the team gear this year which hasn’t happened in a while if they’ll offer the black/blue combo.
Lenny (@leonardodicappucino)
12th February 2019, 1:26
Wow. That is the ugliest livery I’ve seen in quite a while.
JayMcG (@jaymcg)
12th February 2019, 7:36
The Martini livery was never really that good either but the brand is iconic so it worked. Some of the dark blue and white liveries also weren’t that good but it passed as Williams colours, so pretty good. Now they have lost both Martini and the dark blue there’s nothing iconic about it. I think it’s Claire who would have selected this livery from a bunch of them put in front of her, it does look quite girly.
Rob (@sleeper)
13th February 2019, 1:03
Tough crowd, here.
It’s fine. I want to see it out in the sun, but it looks to me as though they will be easy to pick out in a crowd. (Which is kind of the idea, no?)