One Formula 1 team are ‘further behind’ in their development than expected after testing

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The 2024 Formula 1 season is only a couple of days away, but Williams appear to be still be behind in the development of their latest car.

Alex Albon was superb last season while Logan Sargeant had a tricky rookie campaign, but both drivers will be desperate to improve on their results in 2023.

Speaking on The Fast and The Curious Podcast, journalist Christian Hewgill has shared what he’s heard coming out of the Grove-based team.

Williams behind on development of the 2024 car

Team principal James Vowles is trying to lead Williams in a new direction after taking over last year.

He replaced Jost Capito and up to that point, the British team had been competing at the back of the grid.

Led by Albon in 2023, Williams jumped to seventh in the Constructors’ Championship overtaking the likes of AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo – now RB and Stake F1 Team.

However, the development of the 2024 car went right down to the wire at Williams and they only did their first shakedown after they reached Bahrain.

After both cars struggled on the first day of testing, they did make steps forward last week.

The newly-named RB team appear to have leapfrogged them over the winter and Sauber have closed the gap too.

But until the cars take to the track in qualifying, we won’t precisely know where each team is in the pecking order.

Williams could be facing ‘tricky time’ during F1’s opening races

Talking about Williams’s prospects, Hewgill said: “Unfortunately, I’m hearing rumours that Williams have had a bit of a tricky time of it.

“There wasn’t a formal shakedown as such but they did take the car out briefly.

“They did take the car out briefly around the Bahrain circuit before pre-season testing happened. So, they sort of did an unofficial shakedown.

“But, it has looked like the back end is struggling, So, I don’t think Williams have got to grips with that as much as they’d like.

“Now, that’s not to say that they won’t as the season progresses, because I do think Williams are on an upward trajectory and I do think they’re capable of taking the challenge to Alpine as we go into the season.

“But, I’m hearing that they’re probably a little bit further behind than they would have liked to be.”

Williams will hope they can emulate the development of the McLaren in 2023 with their 2024 car.

Alex Albon has already admitted that the team have taken a ‘huge risk’ with their new car.

There’s been a suggestion that aspects of their car are ’10 years out of date’ which is worrying.

But, they have secured the biggest sponsor in the team’s history which will at least help fund any future changes.