Williams reveals ‘almost entirely new car’ plan for Baku

Williams is trying its best to not let a difficult start to Formula 1’s new era define its season, with team principal James Vowles revealing an ambitious development push that will culminate in the arrival of an “almost entirely new car” at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Tardy preparations for 2026 and a car carrying excess weight have played out negatively for the Grove-based outfit. With just 11 points and eighth place in the constructors’ championship, Williams has found itself fighting closer to the back than expected.

And recent races have exposed weaknesses further, with hot conditions and demanding corners highlighting areas where the car remains vulnerable.

But inside the team, there is belief that the current struggles represent a temporary setback rather than a dead end.

A summer of upgrades building toward a major transformation

Williams has already faced criticism from its drivers after failing to make the progress they expected. Alex Albon endured a difficult Austrian Grand Prix, finishing 17th and two laps down, while Carlos Sainz saw a promising race disappear after an engine-related retirement.

Vowles believes the absence of upgrades at the Red Bull Ring contributed to Williams losing ground against rivals who continued bringing improvements.

“I think that's one of the big reasons why you've seen us fall back a bit,” Vowles said, speaking to Sky Germany.

The team boss, however, insists a steady stream of updates is now coming – with the ultimate goal of delivering a major reset later in the season.

“Our upgrade plans, we've got what I call a medium-sized for Silverstone, so just in one week's time,” he explained. “And then there'll be small bits, Spa. Budapest, small bits as well.

“And then slightly bigger elements, including weight reduction to Zandvoort. And then really for us, it's almost an entirely new car for Baku. So that's really the time period that we're waiting for.”

The roadmap represents Williams’ biggest opportunity yet to close the gap. While smaller upgrades will arrive throughout the European summer, the team’s most significant package is being reserved for the Azerbaijan weekend, six races away.

Drivers cling to hopes of progress

The wait for the major upgrade has not been easy for Williams’ drivers, who have openly expressed frustration as they battle a car that currently lacks the pace and reliability needed to consistently fight for points.

Sainz, who was knocked out in Q1 in Austria before his race was cut short after 23 laps, admitted the team needs improvement quickly – but hopes the worst weekends are now behind them.

“Hopefully this will be the last of these really bad weekends where everything has gone wrong,” he said in Austria.

“Because in the end we don't have reliability, we don't have pace, we don't have a car capable of scoring points, so we'll have to wait and see if things improve at Silverstone.”

Albon is also realistic about the scale of Williams’ challenge. He does not expect the upcoming updates to instantly transform the team into a midfield contender, but believes they can mark the first step toward recovery.

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“It’s not going to get us to the midfield, but it will get us maybe closer to the Haas,” he said.

“I think that's maybe a sensible first step this year to get a little bit closer to the midfield cars. We got lapped by the RBs today, so... We're quite a far way away.”

For Williams, the summer ahead is about more than adding performance – it is about proving that the long-term strategy behind its rebuild is beginning to deliver.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix now stands as the key milestone, where a struggling machine could finally be transformed into the car the team believes it can become.

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