2018 will be the final year Williams features the iconic Martini stripes after the Barcadi Group confirmed it would not be renewing their title sponsorship deal.
The famous brand returned to Formula 1 with the British team in 2014 but saw what was believed to be a requirement of one driver over 25 broken when Williams chose Sergey Sirotkin alongside Lance Stroll for this season.
Deputy team boss Claire Williams revealed the news when asked by Autosport about the partnership, though claimed it was simply a matter of alternative priorities which led to Barcadi’s decision.
“We have discussed extending beyond 2018 and, while we would both like to do so, the Bacardi Group have told us that they will step away entirely from F1 when our contract expires at the end of this year,” she said.
“They have many brands to support and obviously their strategic priorities evolve over time.”
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The loss will be a big one for Williams, who have become increasingly reliant on sponsorship to bolster their budget, though with the high paying backers of both their current drivers, the impact will likely be softened.
