So, as the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season comes to an end, it seems like a good time to assess Williams’ position ahead of the new season.
Much of the team’s pre-season testing has focussed on understanding the new FW48, rather than chasing lap times, having missed the initial Barcelona shakedown as a result of development delays, leaving them playing catch-up in the Bahrain.
During the latest two weeks of testing, Williams has prioritised reliability and data collection, with both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz logging significant mileage, giving engineers essential feedback on car balance, tyre behaviour, and setup ahead of the introduction of a new formula in 2026. And in that regard, it’s been a positive test – the FW48 running consistently without major issues – given the issues in Barcelona.
Lap times were modest compared to the front-runners, but the focus was on long-run performance and learning the car’s characteristics rather than outright speed. Albon completed 117 laps on the penultimate day, while Sainz finished the final day with 141 laps, gathering crucial information for race preparations. The team tested various aerodynamic and suspension configurations, gradually improving and understanding the car’s behaviour under different conditions.
Williams’ technical leadership has been keen to stress that the testing was about building a foundation rather than chasing competitive results. Reliability gains and steady mileage were considered the main aim, as the team now has a baseline for further development before the season opener in Melbourne.
While Williams remains behind the pace of the leading teams, the Bahrain testing program allowed the squad to address initial uncertainties and strengthen operational processes. With data in hand and a more consistent car to work with, the team aims to approach the opening race weekend with a clearer picture of potential improvements.
So, in summary, Williams’ pre-season testing was methodical and measured, focused on reliability, learning, and preparation – a necessary step before pushing for stronger results once the championship begins. But I think we all wanted a little bit more.
Rumours of the car being overweight persist, and it’s understood that an update is expected early in the season to address this. Until then it’s likely that our two guys will be towards the back of the midfield, if not slightly behind. And I think they deserve better.
James Vowles is nothing if not honest about the challenges he faces, but it feels like 2026 was a massive opportunity to capitalise on a reset, with a lead time that the top teams could not afford. And so, as Carlos Sainz has alluded to in the last 24 hours, for Williams to have spent – seemingly – the entirety of 2025 preparing for 2026, and to then find itself further down the field that it was last year at a time where it was expected to build on previous gains, is disappointing for everyone. And with similar issues that blighted its entire 2019 campaigns? Let’s hope that when we arrive in Melbourne that testing didn’t paint the full picture, or that the Mercedes engine cars were holding something back for fear of being penalised (a possibility!).
