Williams livery sparks debate over timing during 9/11 anniversary weekend
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 8:00 AM
Last updated Sep 11, 2026
Formula 1 broadcaster Will Buxton has raised concerns regarding the timing of a special retro livery for Williams ahead of the Madrid Grand Prix. The paint scheme references a 1979 sponsorship from the Bin Laden family, a name associated with the orchestrators of the September 11 attacks. With the race weekend coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the tragedy, critics argue the design choice lacks sensitivity. Online fan reactions remain split, with some suggesting the team should have considered the historical context while others dismiss the controversy as an excessive reach. Williams has not issued a formal response to the criticism and currently intends to proceed with the livery for the event. The situation highlights the challenges teams face when balancing heritage-based branding with modern public perception.
- •Williams unveiled a throwback livery featuring a 1979 sponsor name for the Madrid Grand Prix.
- •Will Buxton cited the proximity to the 25th anniversary of 9/11 as a lapse in judgment.
- •The 1979 sponsorship involved the family of Osama bin Laden.
- •Williams has not indicated any plans to alter the car design before the race.
- •Public opinion remains divided over the appropriateness of the team's historic tribute.
- 8:00 AMYahoo Sports — Questions have been asked over the timing of Williams’ retro livery amid 9/11 anniversary
"Questions over the timing of Williams’ special livery for the Madrid Grand Prix have been raised, arguing that the design could prompt uncomfortable associations because of its connection to a family name linked, indirectly, to the September 11 attacks. In a video shared online, the Formula 1 broadcaster Will Buxton discussed the Williams design during a weekend that coincides with the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
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