James Vowles calls Williams’ Baku upgrade ‘a step in the right direction, but not enough’ after FP1/FP2

Williams has brought a major upgrade to Baku as it looks to improve its situation after a difficult 2026 season start, and Team Principal James Vowles assessed the package after opening running in Azerbaijan. Speaking following first practice in Baku, Vowles said the changes are “a step in the right direction, but not enough,” framing the revision as both a mid-season attempt to move closer to the midfield and a broader platform for future development.

The update was designed around a revised and lighter chassis plus a new aerodynamic package. Williams’ earlier season setbacks included missing the Barcelona Shakedown due to development delays, with performance affected by an overweight car, and Vowles acknowledged the new direction is tied to rebuilding work carried out during the season. He also stressed the team’s expectation management, noting that engineers will refine details once the car’s new configuration is evaluated properly.

In FP1 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz finished 12th and Alex Albon was 13th, both running about two tenths off the top 10. The first session also included an issue for Sainz: his brakes caught fire in the pit lane about 15 minutes into running. After FP2, Sainz and Albon ended the session in 16th and 17th respectively, and Williams indicated the limited running meant more time would be needed to fully evaluate the upgrade package.

Sainz described the car as “a bit better” and suggested it felt closer to the midfield, while Albon and the team looked toward Friday’s third practice session to gather the remaining information. Vowles reiterated that the upgrade is not simply about chasing a few positions this year, and he warned expectations should be cautious, emphasizing that new aero packages typically need time to deliver once every aspect—such as ride height and overall balance—has been tuned.

Vowles also said Williams cannot guarantee points based on the upgrade alone, adding that while some improvements are expected relative to teams running different configurations, there is “a little bit more to come,” and it remains to be seen whether the changes are sufficient to deliver a points result in Baku.

Written by Vancouver Television Sports Desk