James Vowles admits Williams have created a ‘problem’ that is hurting Alex Albon

Follow us on Google Discover

Williams team principal James Vowles has admitted that the Formula 1 team have created a ‘problem’ for themselves that is hurting Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant.

The Grove squad have largely endured a frustrating season through the first half of the 2024 campaign. Last year was the best term that Williams had recorded in six seasons after Albon took them to seventh place in the constructors’ championship in Vowles’ first year in charge.

Not since 2017 when the Grove squad secured fifth place with Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll behind the wheel had Williams finished higher in the standings. But they currently only rank ninth in the 2024 standings with Sauber – the sole point-less team remaining – below them.

James Vowles admits it is Williams ‘fault’ that the FW46 is still overweight

Williams also ended the year last in the teams’ standings in 2019, 2020 and 2022, as well as essentially in 2018 when Sahara Force India were excluded from the championship after the team became Racing Point Force India mid-season. So, 2023 was a major result for Williams.

Yet Vowles now admits that Williams have hurt their hopes for building on 2023 after giving Albon and Sargeant an overweight car. The Grove squad are still working to trim the fat from the FW46, in which Albon has scored the team’s only points after his two P9 results thus far.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams Racing from titles to Mercedes relationship

Vowles rues the fact that Williams have put themselves in a situation to slip back to ninth in the standings. He also accepts that they cannot blame anyone but themselves after working to rebuild Williams in Vowles’ vision caused their car to be over the 798kg minimum weight.

“This year we are back in P9 but should we be there? Certainly not if the car reached the minimum weight,” Vowles said, via quotes by Motorsport-Total. “But that is our problem. Nobody else caused this. It is our fault because we have changed our technologies.”

Williams started 2024 with a heavier car than their 2023 challenger

Formula 1’s minimum car weight rule has taken the spotlight lately after George Russell was disqualified after winning the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes. The Briton was 1.5kg under the 798kg limit due to the tyre wear from his one-stop strategy, plus his own loss of weight.

But Williams have struggled to get close to the 798kg limit, despite bringing upgrades to the car throughout the season to address the issue. The FW46 even started the 2024 Formula 1 season heavier than its predecessor, costing Albon and Sargeant almost half a second a lap.

Upgrades at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix gave Williams a lighter chassis, which trimmed 14kg off the FW46’s weight. But, seven rounds later, Vowles still rues the weight of Williams’ car. The lighter chassis helped Albon get P9 in the Monaco GP and British GP at Silverstone.