Albon banking on ‘first proper upgrade’ to improve Williams form

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Alex Albon admits Williams has been on the back foot this season with its current package, but says a turnaround could be on the horizon when the team introduces its first proper upgrade in the back half of 2024.

The Grove-based outfit has struggled to match last year’s points tally, currently sitting ninth in the constructors’ championship with just four points.

Despite his best efforts, Albon has been unable to consistently challenge for a top-ten finish, having only put a pair of P7 results on the board – in Monaco and at Silverstone – across 14 races, a situation he attributes to a lack of car performance.

“I think just not quite the pace,” he said last weekend, after concluding his Belgian GP in twelfth position.

“Esteban [Ocon] and Daniel [Ricciardo] were a little bit quicker than us. We had a good start, we got in a good position to begin with… I feel like just lacking a bit of pace.

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The 27-year-old highlighted the absence of significant upgrades as a key factor in Williams’ struggles.

“We haven’t had many, if any, upgrades this season so far, so we’ve been on the back foot. We’re pushing hard at the factory, everyone’s working really hard… Of course, there’s a bit of a break right now, but time will tell.

“If we can get our first proper upgrade on the car when we come back, I think we can fight for points a bit more regularly. But for now, I think P13, P12 was all we could have done today.”

Reflecting on the first half of the season, Albon described it as "disappointing." He emphasized the need for a comprehensive review during the break, focusing on both short-term improvements and long-term development.

“Disappointing” he acknowledged. “I think we’ve been on the back foot from the very beginning. We were late with our car and we’ve been paying the price the whole season so far. That’s about it.

“We’re digging deep, I think we’ve got some good things in the future. At the same time, we’ve got some areas we need to work on.

“We’ll use this break to look and really focus on the development not just for this year but especially for next year.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.