Nico Rosberg has not held back in his criticism of Williams, labeling their 2026 Formula 1 campaign as a "shocker". The former driver, who started his F1 career with the team in 2006, expressed his disappointment on the Sky Sports F1 Show.
Williams have endured a torrid season, beginning with a car that was both uncompetitive and overweight. The British squad has spent most of the year playing catch-up, currently sitting ninth in the constructors' championship with just 11 points to their name.
Rosberg pointed the finger at the team's overly ambitious approach during the winter break. "They messed up the winter developing this new car. They tried to be very ambitious, innovate, but it backfired," he said. "The car is too heavy. Remember, 10kg of extra weight costs you three tenths of a second per lap. That's enormous."
With a Mercedes power unit – widely considered the best on the grid – Rosberg sees no excuse for Williams' struggles. "They have the best engine, so there's no excuse there. I'm sure the aerodynamics are also not in the best place. They still need to make a lot of progress."
Last year, Williams finished an impressive fifth in the constructors' standings with two podiums. Now, they have plummeted down the order. Rosberg also acknowledged the tough situation facing team principal James Vowles. "It's a tough moment for James, who I rate so highly. He has to fight through this and turn things around."
The dramatic fall from grace has been a bitter pill to swallow for the Grove-based outfit, who had been making steady progress in recent years. Rosberg described the slump as a shock to the system.
There is still time for Williams to salvage their season, but with the competition as fierce as ever, they must find technical and strategic solutions quickly. Otherwise, 2026 could go down as one of their worst years yet.
Read Also
Isack Hadjar returns to Red Bull for the Azerbaijan GP after injury. Explore the full analysis of Red Bull's five F1 2026 drivers, including Lawson and Tsunoda.
Lando Norris reveals McLaren's unique F1 car traits in the 2026 era, including adaptation challenges and different tyre management.
Red Bull confirms Isack Hadjar returns for F1 Azerbaijan GP after wrist injury. Liam Lawson back to Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda sidelined.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!