Before the Grand Prix of Spain in Barcelona, Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz said with unusual openness about the chances of their teams on the Circuit de Barcelona -Catalunya – a route that has offered little reason to be happy, especially for Williams in recent years.
Alexander Albon found clear words: “Barcelona has never been a strong route for us. I think I have only qualified as 19 in the past two years. It has never been particularly good.”
This sober assessment is also underpinned by the numbers: since 2016 Williams has not brought in a single World Cup point in Barcelona. If you go deeper into the data, you can see that the route -specific effect is probably around three tenths that Williams lose in comparison to the season cut in Barcelona.
The classification of the Thai area also gives little hope of a sudden upswing: “I do not think that we will be particularly competitive. It will primarily be about how the new FIA regulations affect – especially with regard to the flexible wings. I think other teams have exhausted this area more than we do. Whether that will help us this weekend?”
Analysis instead of optimism: Monaco as a warning example
Albon is also reflected in the race in Monaco. When asked whether Williams got the maximum out there, he replies with a reference to the complex strategy: “It was a very difficult race. We had a plan A to Plan F.” Especially in qualifying he sees unused potential: “If you look at the lap times – yes. We definitely had to lie in front of Racing Bulls and Haas. My Q2 run was faster than that of Isack [Hadjar] And pretty close to Max. “
Nevertheless, he admits that the understanding of the C6 tires – the softest mixture in the Pirelli portfolio – remains a challenge: “We have had a lot of analysis because I had suddenly oversteer strong oversteer on my best round in Q3 in curve in curve. There is no clear reason to understand the tires and we have not yet mastered them.”
Sainz about Williams: No clear expectations – but respect for the progress
Carlos Sainz, the local hero from Madrid, also commented on the Williams performance in Barcelona – and largely confirms Albon’s assessment: “Williams has not come out of Q1 since 2021.
At the same time, he praises the development of the FW47, the current Williams car: “This year the car is clear compared to the previous ones. I am not very optimistic, but also not pessimistic.”
The new technical directive of the FIA, which affects the use of flexible wings, ensures a lot of conversation in the paddock. However, both drivers do not expect dramatic upheavals.
Albon: “I don’t think you will see big leaps in performance. For us, the effect was not so important.” Sainz adds: “It depends on what you mean by ‘important’. Maybe we’ll talk about a tenth per round. But nobody will suddenly lose or win three tenths.”