James Vowles has given his honest early verdict on the major upgrade package that Williams has brought to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. After a disappointing start to the season, the Grove-based team hopes this update can lift their performance in the midfield.
Williams arrived in Baku with a new lighter chassis and revised aerodynamic package for the FW48. This move comes after they failed to capitalise on the 2026 regulations and are currently ninth in the constructors' championship with just 11 points from 14 races. Their last points finish was at the Monaco Grand Prix.
After two practice sessions on Thursday, Vowles described the improvement as "a step in the right direction, but not enough". He emphasised that the main focus is building a foundation for next year and beyond. "It's not where I would ever want it to be, or the drivers want it to be, but it is still fantastic work by the team to really redevelop an entirely new chassis in-season," he told F1TV.
Vowles added that engineers will still fine-tune details, especially ride height and balance. "You don't get it right first time. There's a little bit more to come from that relative to other teams that have that package," he explained. "But it's not enough to be far enough ahead to guarantee points."
In FP1, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon finished 12th and 13th, offering hope. However, in FP2 they had to settle for 16th and 17th. Sainz, experiencing the new chassis for the first time, felt progress. "In general I feel a bit better with the car, and it seems like we are a bit closer to the midfield," he said. "The laps that I've done have been relatively competitive, given how important track time is here. I feel like I'm in a good place now, and we need to do the right steps going into tomorrow."
With remaining practice and qualifying, Williams still has time to refine their new package. But the challenge in Baku is tough, and Vowles knows his team must keep working hard to climb out of their slump.
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