Williams finally introduced its long-awaited upgrade package in Baku, and while Carlos Sainz’s tenth-place finish provided a welcome point, the more important consequence could come in 2027. The new chassis, floor and aerodynamic components were never expected to rescue the 2026 season. Instead, they represent the first major technical foundation for the car Williams intends to produce next year.
There is reason for optimism after Azerbaijan, but also a clear awareness that the road ahead remains long. Even before the weekend, both the drivers and team principal James Vowles had warned that the package would not suddenly transform Williams’ current campaign. Its value was always expected to lie primarily in establishing a better platform for 2027.
Williams upgrade helps Carlos Sainz reach Q3 in Baku
Carlos Sainz somewhat surprisingly reached Q3 for the first time this season, although a subsequent penalty effectively wiped out the benefit of his qualifying result.
Baku was also a circuit that naturally helped disguise some of the FW48’s weaknesses. The layout features more slow corners and long straights, while differences in downforce are less exposed than at many other venues.
Weight has been another major issue for Williams. The Grove car spent a long period well above the minimum weight after winter delays in passing its crash tests, and that excess mass is a disadvantage that follows a car to every circuit.
In Azerbaijan, however, Williams debuted a rebuilt chassis manufactured using a new carbon-fibre processing technique. The change helped the team move closer to the minimum weight limit, while the same technical solution is also intended to provide the basis for next season’s car.
Williams additionally introduced a new floor and other aerodynamic components as part of the extensive Baku package.
“It was an enormous effort to bring the upgrade we had in Baku, and it’s nice to leave with a point,” James Vowles said. “We didn’t have the pace in the first stint, and we need to dig into that and understand why, because it was a critical phase of the race in which we weren’t able to make progress.”
Baku result offered encouragement but also benefited from rivals’ problems
The difficulties encountered by both McLarens, together with the retirement of the two Alpine cars, ultimately played an important role in Carlos Sainz reaching the points.
There was therefore little reason for Williams to believe it had suddenly become capable of beating the strongest teams in the midfield. The more important sign was that the upgrade brought the Grove squad back into contention with the cars around it, which had been one of the main objectives.
“I think it’s exactly the step forward we expected. Maybe we didn’t expect Q3, to be honest. But yes, it has put us back into the midfield fight,” Alex Albon explained.
The Anglo-Thai driver’s own race ended against the barriers after he ran wide on the entry to the first chicane. Nevertheless, one of the most encouraging conclusions from the weekend was the impression that the FW48 had genuinely become faster, an important confirmation that the new components were working as intended.
Alex Albon explains Williams’ three-wheel problem
Alex Albon also highlighted a weakness that remains in certain grip conditions, with his accident providing one of the clearest examples.
The Williams has a tendency to lift a wheel and run momentarily on three wheels because its mechanical platform is not particularly effective in certain situations. According to Alex Albon, that characteristic contributed to the sequence that ultimately sent him into the barriers.
“We know our car tends to lift the front wheel and stay on three wheels. We know that when we brake a little late, we risk triggering that phenomenon. It happens.”
“Certainly, the gust of wind and the late braking at the same time pushed us beyond the limit. It wasn’t much; it was only a few metres, but they were enough,” Alex Albon explained.
Why validating the FW48 upgrade matters for Williams’ 2027 car
Williams took considerable time to develop the package, but confirming that the changes are moving the car in the intended direction is a crucial step in determining whether the overall development path is correct.
There is never a guarantee that an upgrade will deliver the expected absolute performance gain. In Williams’ case, the team also recognises that even a significant improvement was unlikely to completely close the gap because the FW48 started from such a difficult position.
“Our initial feeling is that the car is simply a little faster. But we were so far away that, even though we brought such a big package, it still feels like there is a lot of ground to recover.”
“So there was no huge surprise in terms of pace, but it was a solid step forward.”
Baku therefore gave Williams something to smile about, but there is little temptation to lose perspective. Carlos Sainz’s tenth place has limited significance when compared with the fundamental weaknesses that have affected the car throughout the season.
Sepang expected to expose Williams’ remaining downforce weakness
Sepang should provide a much more representative examination of the progress Williams has made. Downforce will play a far more important role in Malaysia, and that has consistently been one of the FW48’s weaknesses after aerodynamic development had to be compromised because of the car’s weight problem.
Alex Albon has therefore not ruled out Williams taking a relative step backwards at the next race.
“If we look at the bigger picture, we will make the car faster in terms of optimisation. But we will be slower relative to the rest of the field because that track won’t suit us.”
“Expect us to fall backwards in Malaysia, and then maybe in Singapore we can position ourselves somewhere in between.”
The Malaysian weekend will therefore offer a valuable test of whether the improvement seen in Azerbaijan translates to a circuit with very different demands. The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang will place greater emphasis on sustained downforce, making it considerably harder for Williams to conceal the FW48’s remaining weaknesses.
Williams sees Baku package as a foundation for 2027
Rather than changing the outcome of the 2026 season, the upgrade was conceived with 2027 firmly in mind.
The new carbon-fibre manufacturing process, which James Vowles says differs from the method used by every other team, is viewed as evidence that Williams now possesses greater capacity to innovate. The rate at which the Grove factory can produce new components has also improved compared with several years ago.
The latest chassis is expected to be reused during the 2027 season. Because Williams already needed to redesign it this year, the project was developed while also considering next season’s requirements.
James Vowles believes that should allow Williams to make further progress over the coming months.
“I’m confident that you will see us take a step forward now that this major regulation change is behind us,” Vowles told Sky.
“There will be an aerodynamic change for next year and a power unit change for next year. But it will be smaller in scale, so we can absorb it.”
“It will take a little time, however, to recover from the chaos that was created this winter. The upgrade is moving in the right direction.”
“I think, even more importantly, it is the foundation we wanted to put in place for next year. We recognise that this year is already compromised, unfortunately, but there is a lot to do looking ahead to 2027.”
Williams’ single Baku point therefore matters less as a lifeline for the current championship than as evidence that some of the major technical work carried out behind the scenes is beginning to deliver the intended results. Carlos Sainz reaching Q3, the reduction in weight and the initial validation of the new aerodynamic package are encouraging steps, but Sepang should offer a much clearer indication of just how much progress the FW48 has actually made.
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