F1 driver Susie Wolff shows off Martini colours

Williams Martini's (left-right) Susie Wolff, Valtteri Bottas, Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr. Picture: PA

Wolff, who is the first female F1 driver in 21 years, appeared on stage in London with Valtteri Bottas, Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr as racing team Williams unveiled Martini as their new sponsor. Wolff, 31, from Oban, will compete for Williams Formula One in two practice sessions before the British and German Grands Prix in July.

She joined the Williams team as a development driver in 2012 after seven years in the German Touring Car championship.

She was promoted after an impressive performance in a test at Silverstone last July. Now she hopes the next step in her career will be competing in an F1 grand prix.

The multi-year deal with Martini means that the drinks label’s legendary red and blue stripes that once famously adorned sports cars around the world will appear again this season.

Martini has an association with motorsport stretching back to the 1960s, not just with F1, as the brand and distinctive striping has featured on sports cars, touring cars and World Rally Championship cars.

Martini was a major backer of the Brabham team in the 1970s and was a constant presence on the motorsport circuit until the mid-90s.

However, Williams will be looking for an improvement on last season when they managed only five points and eventually finished in ninth place out of 11 teams.

“2014 is going to be a fascinating season, with regulation changes often shaking up the grid and creating opportunities for teams to make a step forward,” said a Williams spokesman.