Williams Formula 1 team aims to shed 28kg from its overweight FW48 car, targeting a one-second per lap performance boost by the Italian Grand Prix. Team principal James Vowles outlined engineering steps to achieve this, constrained by cost cap rules. Initial reductions could appear at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend.
After placing fifth in the 2025 constructors’ championship, Williams has managed only two points in the early 2026 season despite using the grid's strongest Mercedes power unit. The FW48 chassis, designed by technical director Pat Fry and engineering director Matt Harman, endured four failed crash tests and late FIA homologation, causing the team to miss a Barcelona shakedown in late January. This left the car 28kg over the weight limit from the start. “It's not complicated to bring it down,” Vowles said in Australia. “Already what I have in my inbox today is all of the engineering steps to not just bring it down, but actually be underweight by a good amount.” The team has leveraged a five-week break, prompted by the Iran war, to devise a weight loss plan. Vowles noted that without cost cap limits, the fixes could happen in weeks, but upgrades must align with component lifecycles. An initial mass reduction is set for Miami, followed by a new chassis in summer after fresh crash tests. Completion by the Italian Grand Prix would allow the FW48 to dip below the limit, enabling ballast for better balance and less tyre wear—equating to one second per lap. Vowles praised driver Carlos Sainz for strong communication and Alex Albon for adapting to variable conditions amid the team's growth.
