If getting the 2024 car to pre-season testing in Bahrain was a challenge for the Williams Racing team, it does not appear that their work is done just yet.
They have made gains, yes, but so have the teams around them.
Alex Albon, who qualified P13 for the opening race of the season under the floodlights of Bahrain, explained how it will take time to understand and learn the car with such a different concept.
“Long term, of course it’s worth it, it’s the right thing to do. And we’re never gonna be up at the top if we’re not gonna make big changes — if we just do the short term gains, we’re never making big steps. So for that, I’m totally for it and totally supportive of it.”
However Albon also added that the late completion of the FW46 means Williams updates will take longer to arrive.
“Car was delayed, and as a consequence, the upgrades are delayed as well. And there are pieces of the car that should be on there, but they’re gonna have to wait a little bit.”
Despite the delays, Alex Albon admitted that their car had performed in line with their expectations — if anything, it had exceeded the benchmark Williams had set for themselves.
“P15 was where we kind of hoped we would be and two positions up […] is a nice little reward.”
On the other side of the garage, Logan Sargeant, yet again failed to make his way out of Q1. He qualified P18, missing out by less than two-tenths.
Sargeant lamented his Q1 exit after a really promising first run had seen him inside the top 15.
“I think the first run went great, the balance in the first run is right where I would’ve expected it to be.”
“Just disappointed to not have done it when it mattered, but definitely some understanding to do from my side of what exactly happened.”
When asked to compare the feel of the car between testing and the first qualifying round, the American driver pointed out improvements, noting that they are moving in the right direction.
“It [the car] was much improved from the test when I was last in — it’s all moving in the right direction. For sure, some things we can do to get quicker.
“I think we can be quite optimistic that we have the opportunity to move forward.”
Both Williams drivers suggested an issue with how the FW46 handled the extremely sensitive Pirelli tyres.
Albon said “we’re using the tyres too much, basically”, while Sargeant added that the “tyres are so temperamental.”
Despite not qualifying where they would ideally want to, both drivers seem hopeful of reaping the rewards of their patience later in the season.
