Juan Pablo Montoya has high hopes for Williams ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The former Formula 1 driver believes the Grove-based team will make a significant leap forward when it introduces its long-awaited B-spec upgrade package.
Williams has endured a tough 2026 season. At the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit, Carlos Sainz retired from his home race, while teammate Alex Albon could only manage 15th. That result leaves Williams ninth in the constructors' standings with 11 points, ahead of only Aston Martin and Cadillac.
"I want to see what Williams brings," Montoya said on F1 TV's post-race broadcast. "I want to see how much of a step Williams really brings. They even told Carlos today, 'Sorry for all this pain. Next year, we want to make you proud.' Their first big step in the right direction is the next race. So, we'll see how much of a step in the right direction it is. I think it's going to be a huge step, and they deserve it. It's been a rough year for them."
The upgrade package has been described as a "B-spec" car by team principal James Vowles. "The best way to describe it to you is it's a B-spec car," Vowles said in July. "It's a new chassis, and other bits that go with it at the same time. That will be a large upgrade, that's true."
Vowles added that the team's focus is not just on the performance the upgrades will hopefully bring but also on using the package as a test for its systems and processes. "In terms of our direction of travel, we have to – as a business – prove to ourselves that we can do the engineering to the right level of quality, and build a car to the right level of quality in-season – effectively the equivalency of flying the plane and rebuilding it at the same time. We have to prove to ourselves that we have changed from where we were three years ago, and have that capability. And we're on target to do it at the moment."
With pressure mounting, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a crucial moment for Williams. If the B-spec package delivers a significant improvement, they could climb out of their slump and challenge in the midfield. Montoya is optimistic, and fans are eagerly awaiting Williams' performance in Baku.
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