The 2026 season is proving complicated for Williams, and driver Alex Albon has made it clear that the improvements expected for the Baku Grand Prix will not solve the team’s current problems.
After a 2025 season in which they achieved several podiums, Williams now finds itself in ninth position in the championship, accumulating only 11 points to date, with the last point scored at the Monaco Grand Prix in early June.
The last grand prix held in Hungary was particularly disappointing for the British team, with Albon and his teammate Carlos Sainz finishing in 17th and 18th positions. On this occasion, they were outperformed by teams like Audi and Aston Martin, which have introduced recent upgrades.
Despite positive expectations regarding the new improvements anticipated for the Baku circuit, which team principal James Vowles has described as a “nearly new car,” Albon remains cautious. “We know the weaknesses of the car and the direction we need to work in,” he stated. The driver recalls that the team has worked hard to address its structural problems, but doubts they can be resolved in the short term.
“This improvement was planned some time ago, so it’s likely that what we are really facing is for next year’s car. The important thing now is to ensure that the 2027 car does not have the characteristics that frustrate us so much,” Albon added.
In addition, the problems for Williams have intensified due to a slow start to regulatory changes, which forced them to skip the Barcelona test in January due to production delays. Consequently, the FW48 model has experienced weight issues, which became more evident on a high aerodynamic load track like Hungary.
Albon has expressed his frustration at not being able to deploy his full potential while driving. “I still can’t show my best self because I have to drive more conservatively due to the car’s low consistency,” he emphasized, highlighting his helplessness in changing circuit conditions.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
