Despite the fact that Williams’ car isn’t the fastest on the Bahrain track, it has emerged as the most improved vehicle and a standout in the anticipated midfield pack during the second day of the Formula 1 testing. This verdict comes with a certain degree of caution, given that the assessment is based on observations from various corners of the track over two days.
On the first day, Williams’ car left a strong impression with its speed, although it appeared a little challenging to handle, with drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz having to take frequent corrective measures. However, the car stood out for its quickness and responsiveness. Its performance in long runs on the second day, demonstrating consistent balance, only reinforced this perception.
While the vehicle is fundamentally well-functioning, it occasionally throws the drivers off guard. When Scott Mitchell-Malm from The Race conveyed this shared observation to Albon, he concurred, indicating that there were indeed areas that need improvement, including new software and focus areas that have slightly altered the car’s balance.
However, Albon also emphasized that the car’s current position is much superior to the previous year, despite a few areas where they are still getting caught off guard. He assured that these issues are fixable and that changes made between the testing days have already shown improvement, though there is still work to be done.
At the start of the testing, Williams’ car seemed to react more to bumps or certain compressions on the straights than its competitors, but it managed to find stability quicker than some. However, the vehicle showed instability at the entry to medium and low-speed corners, forcing the drivers to adjust and compromising the corner entry. This improved significantly by Thursday, with the car demonstrating consistent performance during the race run.
Despite some uncertainty regarding fuel loads and the possibility of Williams running lighter than the frontrunners and some midfield competitors, the car appears user-friendly, albeit with an edge that may surprise the unprepared driver.
When comparing Williams to its immediate competitors in the midfield, the differences become apparent. The Alpine is speedy but seems disconnected, a trait shared by the Racing Bulls car. The Haas shows relative consistency but is often limited by understeer. The Aston Martin appears usable but raises concerns about its overall pace. The Sauber, on the other hand, is the least consistent and seemingly offers the least confidence to its drivers.
While the above overview is provisional and based on a mere two-day observation, it is clear that the competition in midfield will be fierce. However, the current picture is promising for Williams. Even though the car’s position at the top of the timesheets may be misleading, it appears to be in the best shape to lead the midfield pack and edge closer to the top quartet. If the team can iron out the car’s few flaws, it has the potential to be a formidable force in the 2025 season.