Williams drivers positive on new package, but 'we need more'

Carlos Sainz believes Williams’ heavily revised FW48 has finally given the team something it has been missing for much of 2026: a car capable of getting into the fight.

But after ending a ten-race scoring drought in Baku, the Spaniard knows the upgrades have not magically transformed Williams into regular points contenders.

The Grove outfit arrived in Azerbaijan with a major package designed to address the weaknesses that had plagued its overweight and underperforming car.

The changes immediately offered encouragement, with Sainz reaching Q3 for the first time this season before a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow sufficiently for yellow flags dropped him to 14th.

He fought his way back to 10th in Sunday’s race, helped by several retirements ahead, to claim Williams’ first point in ten rounds. Yet while the result offered some reward for the team’s effort, Sainz was already looking beyond the single point.

‘We can have some fun’

The Spaniard admitted the aftermath of qualifying had left him in a low mood, particularly given the penalty that wiped out much of the benefit of Williams’ breakthrough Saturday.

“I think [it’s] what we deserved this weekend, to get a point for the team after the effort of the upgrade and a great Qualifying yesterday,” Sainz said.

“Some good management there at the end for the last 10-15 laps, getting myself back into contention.

“I’m very disappointed after what happened yesterday, the way that was managed, the way that was handled. I was very depressed, let’s say, going into today. I managed to get a point for the team which was the target.”

Nevertheless, the FW48’s new-found potential has given Sainz reason to believe Williams can at least start enjoying itself more regularly in the midfield.

“[There’s] optimism in terms of I think the package is going to allow us to get back into positions where we can have some fun and fight with the others,” he added.

“The reality is that to get points, we’re still going to need each other’s help or some people’s help.

“I think the package is good to see, but after what I saw today, I think we’re going to need more if we want to fight for points regularly.”

That distinction could prove important. Williams may have taken a step forward, but Baku’s unusually chaotic race also played a significant role in delivering Sainz his point. On pure pace, the team still has ground to recover.

Albon identifies another weakness

Alex Albon’s weekend was far less rewarding. The Thai-British driver crashed at Turn 1, locking up and hitting the wall before the resulting Safety Car helped set up the dramatic restart that caused further chaos.

Albon was unable to fully explain the unusual mistake, although he suspected the conditions played a part.

“Unusual crash, unusual place. I’ve not fully understood – maybe I braked a little later than the last lap, had a tailwind. We don’t like that corner as well, so we generally front-lock there. My fault, but it happens,” he said.

Despite his early exit, Albon came away encouraged by the underlying pace of the upgraded FW48. The package, which included a new floor and revisions around the rear of the car, appears to have addressed some of Williams’ problems – but not all of them.

“We probably need a bit more aero in the car,” he said.

“Actually, this car was not bad. This track suited us, our pace was actually quite good throughout the race. In the two medium speed corners of the track – Turn 1 and the last corner – we were slow, which is going to make the rest of the year difficult.”

• Read also: F1i Driver Ratings for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

So while Baku finally gave Williams a glimpse of the midfield fight it has been chasing, both drivers agree that the FW48 still needs another injection of performance.

The first upgrade may have made the car more entertaining; the next ones will need to make it consistently competitive.

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