In the first practice session in Melbourne, Alex Albon incurred significant damage to his Williams car.
Starting the season with an overweight FW46, James Vowles says Williams’ repair bill has hindered the team’s efforts to take the weight off the car.
However, by establishing his “red line,” he is putting a halt to it now, commencing with the Imola upgrades of the team, which aim to bring the car closer to the mandated weight of 798kgs.
‘So this is very open and transparent…’
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
Williams came into the 2024 season with high expectations following their impressive 28-point performance last year, indicating that the team was on an upward trend.
They’ve yet to deliver.
One of three teams yet to get off the mark, Williams are holding onto eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship based on Alex Albon’s two P11 results, while even his qualifying results have fallen short of last year’s super Saturday moments.
Vowles attributes this to an excessively heavy car, which is causing the team to lose nearly half a second per lap.
“The team boss assured the media, including PlanetF1.com, that he would provide a rationale for Williams’ challenges. He emphasized that their approach was exceptionally candid and forthright, unlike most other teams on the grid.”
Since I began working here, none of the cars we have produced have ever met the weight limit. Every year, without fail, they have exceeded it by a significant margin.
In the span of 2023 to ’24, we successfully reduced the weight of the chassis by 14 kilos.
“If you are familiar with the figures in the industry, you will understand that achieving such a feat is exceptional. The team performed admirably in accomplishing that.”
Nevertheless, the car we have been using this year is consistently slower by approximately four and a half tenths of a second per lap due to its excessive weight.
“What occurs when you question the system and its technology is that you receive an output, which ultimately leads to delays.”
“So, to help you get back on track, we introduced weight as one of the solutions, resulting in a significant increase in weight.”
Although the chassis has improved significantly, we have added a substantial amount of weight.
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Williams’ FW46 could potentially be overweight by as much as 15kgs, which is widely believed to cost around 0.3s on the track.
However, the team has introduced new components for Albon’s car at Imola. Nevertheless, Williams anticipates that it will take at least six races to reduce the car’s weight to an acceptable level.
Vowles stated that he desired the chance to explain what was done and the ongoing efforts to rectify the situation. He emphasized that his focus lies in progressing forward rather than dwelling on past events.
“So, the Imola race marks the beginning of our weight reduction journey, which will persist over the next six races, aimed at ultimately returning us to our desired position.”
Despite Alpine and other rivals making progress in addressing their weight issues, the Grove team, particularly Williams, has faced setbacks due to crashes early in the season. Consequently, the team has been struggling not only to replace damaged parts but also to focus on developing new ones.
According to Vowles, our main obstacle has been the significant damage we’ve incurred throughout the early stages of the season. Specifically, we’ve rendered four gearboxes irreparable, five floors damaged, four front wings and rear wings impaired, along with various other components.
“You cannot handle the burden alone; seek assistance from a team, any team or group, to share the responsibility.”
“I was shocked by the extent of the damage in the last three races, and it’s something I can’t ignore. I’m not happy about any of these incidents, but I feel it’s important to be honest and upfront about it because that’s a boundary I won’t cross.”
“And this is the point where we cease, and from here onwards, we manufacture cars that meet the necessary standards.”
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