Nico Rosberg called Williams’s 2026 front‑row effort a “shocker,” blaming an overambitious winter development sprint and a weight‑laden chassis for the current disappointments.
Ground‑Level Hurdles Before the Season
Williams entered the 2026 campaign short of advantages, missing the private Barcelona test in January and bringing an overweight car to Bahrain’s first pre‑season session. The over‑weight issue manifested during the Miami Grand Prix, where major upgrades failed to translate into consistent point finishes.
Despite a Mercedes power unit, the team currently positions ninth in the constructors’ standings with 11 points: six from Carlos Sainz and five from Alex Albon.
Rosberg’s Assessment of the Winter Mess
“They messed up the winter,” Rosberg noted during the Sky Sports F1 Show. “The ambition to innovate with the chassis back‑fired, piling on extra weight that costs at least 0.3 seconds per lap. That’s a huge loss.”
He added that the aerodynamic package remains a concern and that there is no excuse for falling behind – especially with the best engine on the grid. Rosberg highlighted the steep drop from recent years, saying the team was once “moving towards the top six or top eight permanently.”
The Vowles Challenge Ahead
James Vowles now faces “an uphill battle to get back on track,” according to Rosberg. The Lake‑Grove outfit must redefine its strategy, improve weight balance, and step up aerodynamic performance to lure back a positive trajectory.
While the Mercedes partnership remains, leadership’s responsibility will rest on Vowles’ shoulders to steer the club into a competitive era in 2026.
"