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Williams’ Rocky Road: Slimming Down FW46 and Revving Up for 2025 with Sainz

David Castro by David Castro
December 15, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Williams’ Rocky Road: Slimming Down FW46 and Revving Up for 2025 with Sainz

May 3, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Williams driver Alexander Albon (23) races out of turn 17 during F1 Sprint Qualifying at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Williams Racing’s 2024 Formula 1 campaign was a story of highs, lows, and the heavy burden of an overweight car. The team entered the season playing catch-up with their cumbersome FW46, and despite glimpses of potential in the midseason, the British outfit ended the year in disappointment. Yet, with Carlos Sainz joining for 2025 and team principal James Vowles laying out a clear long-term vision, Williams is looking to turn the page on a challenging chapter.


A Weighty Problem and a Season of Missed Opportunities

The overweight FW46 set the tone for a frustrating season. Williams struggled early, lacking the agility to capitalize on scoring opportunities while rivals surged ahead. With limited resources, the team introduced only one major upgrade midway through the year. While this upgrade provided a temporary boost—yielding promising results in Monza, Baku, and Singapore—Williams’ pace faded as competitors continued to evolve their cars.

Reflecting on the season, Alex Albon acknowledged that Williams had left points on the table early in the campaign. “My general opinion is a feeling of a little bit of a missed opportunity,” Albon told Motorsport.com. “If we had started off a bit stronger, like what the Astons did, with a peakier beginning and trailed off at the end, we would still have had a solid season, but we didn’t.”


Driver Drama and a Costly Second Half

Williams made headlines post-Monza by dropping Logan Sargeant, whose string of crashes and underwhelming performances put the team in a financial and competitive bind. Replacing him was young Argentine prospect Franco Colapinto, who showed promise in his debut but soon found himself embroiled in accidents of his own. Even Albon wasn’t immune to the chaos, with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix becoming a financial nightmare due to costly incidents.

“Crashes hurt us,” Albon admitted. “We’ve also had a lot of bad luck and a lot of issues, but really, it’s more of a missed opportunity at the beginning of the year than anything else.”


Albon’s Faith in the Vowles Vision

Despite the setbacks, Albon remains optimistic about Williams’ trajectory under team principal James Vowles. The Thai driver highlighted Vowles’ honesty and long-term strategy as reasons to stay hopeful.

“I’m not here for short-term success. I’m here for the long term,” Albon emphasized. “James is very open with me, and I think his aspirations to not just fight at the forward end of the midfield, but beyond that, are what we need. Maybe it’s taking longer than we want, but I’m glad we’re making sacrifices to get the upgrades we need.”


Carlos Sainz: Williams’ New Star for 2025

Williams’ most significant move for 2025 is the signing of Carlos Sainz. After being ousted from Ferrari to make way for Lewis Hamilton, Sainz brings experience, consistency, and a point to prove. His arrival signals Williams’ intent to move up the grid, providing Albon with a proven teammate to help drive development.

Pairing Sainz with Albon gives Williams one of its most experienced lineups in years, and the hope is that Sainz’s insights from Ferrari’s high-pressure environment will accelerate the team’s climb out of the midfield.


The Road Ahead

For Williams, 2024 was a year of lessons learned the hard way. The team’s overweight car and crash-filled season underscored the need for a sharper, more efficient development program. But with Vowles’ leadership, Albon’s consistency, and Sainz’s arrival, the Grove-based squad is positioning itself for a comeback.

While the road to the front of the grid remains long, Williams is making the right moves to ensure its aspirations extend beyond the midfield. As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on whether this iconic team can finally turn potential into performance—and whether Carlos Sainz can help them rediscover their winning ways.

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