Williams F1 upgrades will hit a milestone at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with a replacement chassis ready for the Baku weekend.
A Baku Surprise for Williams
Team principal James Vowles announced that the squad will almost have a brand‑new car by the late‑September Azerbaijan GP, a promise that follows a slow start to the 2026 F1 season. The delayed and overweight FW48 left the team rattled, pushing it to eighth in the constructors’ standings with just 11 points, outranked only by Audi, Aston Martin and Cadillac.
Season Performance Context
Two consecutive race failures highlight the issue: Alex Albon finished 17th, two laps down, while Carlos Sainz retired from Austria when his engine failed. Hot track conditions and tight corners at both circuits exposed weight‑related weaknesses, a critical factor underlining the urgency of an upgrade.
Upgrade Roadmap
Vowles outlined a phased plan, starting with a medium‑sized package at Silverstone next week, then smaller tweaks for Spa, Budapest, and Zandvoort. A significant weight‑reduction round is also planned, culminating in the ‘almost entirely new car’ due in Baku. The squad will wait at least six more races before installing the full upgrade.
Driver Reactions
Albon accepted that the British GP updates cannot push Williams into midfield, yet he sees a move closer to the Haas and Racing Bulls as a reasonable first step. Aston Martin adopts a similar strategy, holding back on minor changes until a major package arrives in Hungary.
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