The cooling “is still a topic” at Formula 1 team Williams after technical problems have repeatedly occurred in the past Grands Prix.
Alexander Albon said in Spa-Francorchamps in front of the Belgium Grand Prix in 2025: “We have taken preliminary measures, but they are just emergency solutions-and the costs for us.”
In addition, there was another neck strike for Albon on Friday in Belgium: According to the driver, the Mercedes drive in the rear of its William FW47 was incorrect.
“We already had a problem in free training,” said Albon. “We thought we had fixed it for sprint qualifying, but we didn’t succeed.”
The problem is not the lines
So he loses “really a lot of time” on the straights because his car is braked by the “basic problem”, Albon said.
But the data analysis of GP Tempo contradicts: On the long Kemmel straight, Albon keeps well with the McLaren from World Cup leader Oscar Piatri and loses only around three tenths of a second to the Les-Combs-Handican. Only then does the deficit increase: after the harassment, it is six tenths, two curves later 1.2 seconds. At the finish: 2.7.
How does that fit Albon’s description of the state? He still wanted to “get to the bottom of the matter,” said Albon. “I am also not sure how much we can learn here via the new package.” Because in Spa it is driven after the sprint format, and there is also changeable weather. “Hopefully we will understand the update in Hungary a little better.”
Sainz does not yet feel at home in Williams
Albon’s Williams teammate Carlos Sainz therefore also speaks of a “learning process” with the changed vehicle. “It is also my first time with a Williams in Spa. It feels different from a Ferrari. I have to adapt my driving style and everything else,” said Sainz.
But it says that Williams is currently not competitive. Sainz, for example, said: “We still make life a little difficult.”
Video: Expert: That was a pointer from Piatri
When Williams turned wrong
But what did the traditional British team thrown out of the trail? Was it the Flexi rules that were tightened around the Spain Grand Prix?
Albon called other factors: “I would personally say that it is more due to the upgrades of our rivals. To be honest, the Flexi-Wing topic did not change much for us. At the same time, we started these overheating problems. That was initially occasionally occasionally, but at some point it became a continuous problem in the middle of the season.”
“At that time came the big update from Sauber. Haas also brought some upgrades. Racing Bulls and Aston Martin too. We are among the last that are now upgrading.”
“Small dots” are still in
Williams even accelerated the current update: “We are two races in front of the original schedule,” said Albon.
But before Williams can implement the update and has the technology under control, Albon and Sainz probably have to bake smaller rolls. It is about “small points,” said Sainz. “Maybe we no longer fight for P4 or P5 how [in der Frühphase des Jahres]but TOP 10 or TOP 8 are still in there – and they help us in the championship. “
Williams still has a good lead over his direct pursuer in the design classification. However, Sauber has scored 35 of his currently 41 points on the past four racing weekends when Williams only scored a total of five points. The trend thus speaks against Williams – and for clean.