Williams boss James Vowles stated that he is not worried about a possible departure of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz from Williams in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Even with the team facing difficulties after dropping from fifth to eighth position in the constructors’ championship, the team principal assured that the two drivers remain committed to the Grove team’s project.
Read more F1: Vowles remains optimistic about engine rules for 2027
The season has been challenging for Williams, mainly because of the FW48, described as a car above the ideal weight after the introduction of the new technical regulations. Still, Vowles believes the team is showing progress and the ability to react to the problems encountered at the start of the championship.
The British team boss highlighted that his main goal is to prove that the team has changed compared to the past. According to him, the current structure is capable of responding quickly to difficulties and recovering competitiveness throughout the car’s development.
“It is very important for me and the board to show that we are not the old Williams,” Vowles said. “The Williams of the past would have faced a difficult off-season and remained at the back of the grid. I want to show that we have the capacity to react and find performance quickly, and we are doing that right now,” he said.
The executive also commented that Albon and Sainz are not only interested in occasionally reaching Q3 but in seeing a team capable of solving problems and continuously evolving. For Vowles, this is the main factor that keeps the drivers motivated within the project.
Read more F1: Alonso retired from the Canadian GP after severe back pain
“Speaking about the driver market, talk to Alex and Carlos. They want to be part of this journey, and that is the best I can say. My job is to ensure they continue to want that as well,” the Brit said.
Williams continues to promote internal changes to strengthen its technical and operational structure. Recently, the team hired professionals from McLaren, Mercedes, and Alpine, including Piers Thynne, former McLaren operations director.
Sainz praised the team’s reaction after the problems faced at the start of the year: “After the initial difficulties, it became clear that we were not yet at the level we should be in several areas. I am happy to see that we managed to react quickly, recognize the problems, and create an action plan to become stronger,” concluded the Spanish driver.
Read more F1: Steiner jokes and says Verstappen would praise the rules if he won in Canada
