Alexander Albon, driver for Williams in Formula 1, has highlighted that the late start to the 2026 season has exposed some significant deficiencies within the team. Issues with the FW48 model forced Williams to miss the private test that took place in Barcelona at the end of January, arriving at the preseason tests in Bahrain with a major disadvantage compared to its competitors.
Currently, the team sits in ninth place in the constructors’ championship, with only two points, after struggling with an overloaded vehicle during the first three races of the season. In a recent interview, Albon expressed his frustration regarding the team’s response at the start of the season, especially after a 2025 that had ended on a high note, finishing fifth in the constructors’ standings and with his teammate, Carlos Sainz, achieving two podiums in Azerbaijan and Qatar.
“It has been a general frustration for all of us. Every year it seems like we make progress, and coming into this season, everything seemed positive. Then, in the last few months before starting, things got cut back, and we went into a real defensive mode,” commented Albon. “This is not where I think we should be, but on the other hand, this has highlighted some areas where we are weak as a team.”
Albon also pointed out that the regulatory changes have altered the work structure within the team, revealing that the new demands have exposed some bottlenecks at the factory. “From 2022 to 2025, the cars were evolving and improving, but the stress that comes with a rule change is completely different,” he added.
When asked about the significance of missing the Barcelona test, the Thai-British driver insisted that every minute counts. “Track time is very valuable, especially with the limitation on testing. Part of the practice time is now dedicated to deploying and operating the car’s software. We cannot afford to spend so much time on aerodynamic testing,” he concluded.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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