James Vowles, team principal of the Formula 1 Williams team, has acknowledged that the improvements planned for the 2026 season will not be enough to earn points consistently. With only 11 points accrued in 14 races, the team has had a frustrating start to the season.
After a tough preseason in Bahrain, with a car that was presented overweight, Vowles explained that the mistakes made during the initial development of the car will hinder the team’s performance for the rest of the year. ‘It’s been a challenging year and it will continue to be so until the end,’ Vowles stated in a podcast.
Referring to the improvements scheduled for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Vowles has been clear in stating that the impact of these updates will be limited. ‘They will be small steps, but they will not be enough to achieve the minimum we are looking for, which is to score in a race,’ he said.
Despite disappointing results, Vowles has remained optimistic about the future: ‘I believe we will move up the grid next year. It’s difficult to go backwards, so we expect improvements, although the road will still be tough,’ he concluded.
Currently, Williams occupies the ninth position in the constructors’ championship, just ahead of Aston Martin and Cadillac. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will take place from September 24 to 26 at the Baku Circuit.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
