Williams driver Alex Albon has expressed optimism about the team's potential in the 2026 Formula 1 season despite a challenging start. He described progress as a gradual process amid an upcoming upgrade for the Miami Grand Prix. Team principal James Vowles emphasized the importance of the current break for development.
Alex Albon stated that Williams holds significant potential to advance during the 2026 F1 season, but cautioned that improvement would come step by step. Speaking on The Fast And The Curious podcast, he noted the car's heavy initial weight and development delays that led to skipped private testing in Barcelona. The team struggled in the first three races before entering an unexpected April break to refine the FW48 chassis, Albon said. He added that the factory is working at full capacity to transform the car by season's end under new regulations. Albon highlighted an upgrade package for the Miami Grand Prix, set for May 1-3, describing it as an improvement but not revolutionary. 'It will be better, but it won't be the best thing since sliced bread,' he remarked. His goal is to re-enter the midfield battle and lead it, acknowledging the task's difficulty. James Vowles, Williams team principal, reinforced the need to maximize the break. In his Vowles Verdict, he said every hour counts to regain competitiveness before Miami. 'Clearly we haven’t started the season where we wanted to, so that period for us is about taking stock of what we actually really can change,' Vowles explained. The Grove-based team aims to chip away at issues race by race, positioning for a stronger second half.
