Fan Appreciation Week: Celebrating our most dedicated fans

Some of our most loyal fans in 2025 feature on our pit crew helmets in Abu Dhabi this weekend

Published

06 DEC 2025

Est. reading time

10 min

Every race weekend, every game played, every prediction submitted and every tap on the Atlassian Williams Racing app takes your fandom to new heights.

This season, a group of our most engaged and passionate fans have stood out, not just for their constant support, but also for their activity across Pit Wall Predictions, Circuit Breaker, Tyre or Lower, badge collections, quizzes, arcade challenges and articles.

To celebrate them, each of these incredible supporters will have their name proudly placed on a pit crew member’s helmet this weekend. A further 47 fans will also feature on a special FW47 poster.

Below is our Helmet Honour Roll, featuring every selected fan along with a snippet from quotes they shared about what the team means to them.

THE HELMET HONOUR ROLL

Oliver Shelmerdine

"I have always loved F1. I was always proud to watch Williams growing up to see the massive achievements Frank Williams achieved, and watching Williams grow."

Kai Juergensen

“I was born into a family of mechanics and racers, so my playground was the workshop, and my alarm clock? the sounds of cars. Since we lived opposite the shop, every occasion was spent there - from birthdays to father's days. The first race I fully watched was the Australian 2002 GP - our home race. I was 12, and with no clue who to go for, i just pointed to a car saying, "that one looks cool, i'll go for him!". It was Montoya. I've never looked back."

Jackie Bautista-Bello

“When I think about the team all I could think about is how astonishing the team really is. How well you guys communicate with the fans. Making us feel like we’re also in that garage helping every step of the way we can. It’s clear, something some teams can’t say they have."

Veanny Castillo

“Many emotions, happiness, stress with every weekend, anxiety, satisfaction! Fight, teamwork, effort and organization! This year has been crazy, they deserve these points and many more that I'm sure will come!”

Sam Nicolson

“My Willams passion comes from Ayrton Senna, RED 5, DC and more recently Carlos joining the team! [I love] The winning history, dedication and commitment to excellence and the care and enthusiasm they have for us as fans!"

Ionut Budeanu

“The reason I'm a fan now is for the fight back. It's inspiring to see a team with that kind of heritage battling its way back to the sharp end of the grid. There's a real sense of determination and a refreshing "clean slate" energy with the new management and investment. It's exciting to watch the process of rebuilding and seeing small victories become stepping stones to bigger ones.”

Veronica Washco

“Carlos Sainz is what drew me to become a fan of Atlassian Williams Racing. I have a deep love for F1, even though my journey with it hasn't been the longest, which has been fueled by my commitment to Carlos and Williams. From watching F1 documentaries, series, and races, I have been drawn to the team that can give it their all while every odd is stacked against them. Williams, along with Carlos and Alex, shows the example that if you do your best, your dreams will eventually come true, which is what really made me a fan."

Julio Bernal

“My long standing with F1 in general and more specifically with Williams, since those times when I was a child – now 65 years old – cheering for my countryman Carlos “Lole” Reutemann."

Valter Bertolo

“I'm a fan since Patrese joined Williams. I'm italian and I was happy he joined a top team. Then never give up! The Renault Clio Williams in my garage is the first thing come in my mind when I hear "Williams". I enjoy a lot the live commentary during Free Practices, Qualifying and especially races."

Wayne Britz

“Always have been a fan of Atlassian Williams Racing and became my No1 team when Carlos and Alex joined the team. It's the commitment, teamwork, development and dedication."

Kevan Campbell

“Everyone loves an underdog story.” Well, that is what Williams has always been at its core and it’s what drew me to cheer for this team. From Frank Williams to Alex and Carlos to the Team itself, no matter how many times they’ve been knocked down, they come back and fight until the checkered flag.”

Vince Calleja

(Didn’t share a quote, but remains a legendary fan all the same.)

Misty Gniadek

“My husband got the entire family watching and attending F1 races. I like the history of Atlassian Williams Racing and the consistency of the brand. I enjoy seeing the art created for the badges. I especially love when we get points badges!”

Safwana Binte Said

“I was drawn to Atlassian Williams Racing because of its dignity. As a long term Formula 1 fan I have always trusted the process of racing. The main factor that made me a Williams fan was because of its extraordinary history and supportive environment. Being an Atlassian always made me feel included and important.”

Hamilton Martinez Espinoza

“Franco's arrival is what made me a Williams fan. Seeing a Latin American driver on the team sparked my interest, and I liked the activities they do on their social media and app. After learning about the team's history, innovation, persistence, and the fight for victory is the word that comes to mind."

George Jarvis

“I only recently discovered my passion for F1 when I was at Silverstone a few weeks after the British Grand Prix. It was a random weekend I had booked to stay there as a gift for my partner who loved F1. While we were eating breakfast, we heard the sharp scream of an engine from outside and rushed to look. It was the first time I ever saw an F1 car. We stood there for ages on the balcony watching the Williams go round the track and in that time, I fell in love with the sound of that engine and the beauty of the car. We would have stayed there all day if not that we had to check out, but that time was enough to hook me, and ever since then, I have been following everything that Williams do.”

Maria Gonzalez

“What attracted me most and made me a huge fan is seeing true teamwork. The respect, strength, unity and consistency the team demonstrates race by race, even during the most difficult moments make it the most outstanding team in F1. The way you approach the fans is also out of this world. We feel so close and pampered!”

Rachel George

“I became a fan of Atlassian Williams Racing when I first started watching F1 in 2021 and wanted a team that I knew would be authentic. Williams stood out instantly. Their history is iconic, but I was even more drawn to their current journey: investing in new technology, building talent, and rebuilding with patience and purpose rather than shortcuts. Watching Alex's consistency and the way the whole team works together made me appreciate them even more. Their culture and determination are what made me stay a fan. With bringing in Carlos, I truly can't wait to see what the 2026 season and beyond holds.”

Katrina Groark

"Where to begin.... behind the scenes videos understanding what happens at Grove and the varied aspects that make up the whole team, James Vowles' candid post-race commentary, the mighty Team Torque episodes, the childhood nostalgia of collecting stickers and hopefully 1 time I'll manage pit wall prediction perfection!"

Enrique ‘Quieque’ Moreno Ramos

"I started to be a fan of Formula 1 long time ago, when Keke Rosberg and Nigel Mansell started to be Williams team, then the next year came Williams 3rd Championship with Mansell and Piquet, with consecutive Championship next year, so I knew it was one of the teams to follow up, but when Williams really caught me was with Ayrton Senna, with that No.2 that still one of my favorites racing cars. I have always admired the way the team has been managed, even in difficult times, and how the new leadership team has maintained the essence of the team, bringing a new spirit."

Susan Ginter

“I started watching F1 racing in 2018. I’m an early riser and found F1 racing great because most of the races are on early here in the US. I was drawn to Williams Racing because I knew of their rich history as a powerhouse of racing. They were struggling but I had a feeling that they were going to come back strong. I love an underdog and a comeback story. I was also excited when James Vowles came on as Team Principal. He has great vision. I love the Williams app. It has great content and tons of information. My favorite feature has to be the Vowles Verdict. I love to hear his insights after the race.”

Michael Oaklands

“I have been a long-time fan with Williams, all the way back to Alan Jones winning the championship. Through all the good and bad. The future looks very bright for the team, so impressed this year compared to last.”

Sonia Conway

"My children are huge F1 fans and one of them was lucky enough to get a school trip to your site in Grove and was very impressed, so as a family we've followed Williams closely ever since The engineering and technology that goes into the design of the cars, and all the work that goes into it behind the scenes between races at the site in Grove for instance."

Nicole Tovar

"I started slowly becoming a fan when I watched the team on Drive to Survive on Netflix. Later on, Logan Sargeant was in the team I continued supporting the team and now even more since Carlos Sainz is one of your drivers. I love how we can obtain badges and how unique they are, that really makes us fans to get to interact a lot on the app. I guess that is one of the things that makes me always come back. Another thing is how we get to see a lot more from the drivers and how there are also games and the store on the same site."

Michelle Tong Martin Smyth

"I was drawn to Atlassian Williams Racing because I love the family feel of the team and the care they have for the drivers and all the team members. There has been so much careful work and strategic planning to get Williams where they are now, and James has been an extremely inspiring and thoughtful leader of the team. I originally became a fan because I am a huge fan of Alex Albon because he seems like a very genuine and kind person. Alex’s F1 journey, especially the growth over the past few years, really parallels the development of the Williams team. I am so thrilled to see the teamwork between Alex and Carlos this year, and I love how they both challenge each other to be better, while also offering support when they can (in particular, I am thinking of Carlos’s strategy call for Australia)."

Martin Smyth

"Followed F1 since 1985, Nigel Mansell was the main interest. The website is probably the best available, better than the other teams. The Team has improved greatly over the last couple of years, I can see it being in the top 3 constructors next year. I enjoy every aspect of the Website and App and visit both daily."

Christopher Chen

"I got pulled into Williams because they’re the classic underdog story, a legendary team clawing their way back with real momentum lately. The energy around their resurgence just feels exciting, like you’re watching a sleeping giant finally wake up. I became a fan the moment I realized how much heart the team has when I visited the factory for a watch party, and seeing how loyal the fanbase is even through the tough seasons at the Williams fan zone events. It’s impossible not to root for them."

Thank You, Williams Fans

Your loyalty, passion and constant support powers everything we do, trackside and at our Grove Headquarters. This weekend, when you spot those helmets lined up and ready for action, know that your support is right there with us.

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