This forum contains threads to discuss teams themselves. Anything not technical about the cars, including restructuring, performances etc belongs here.
Unfortunately, multiple rumors that Williams is behind schedule and may not make the Barcelona test.
Post the source.
I think "rumors" implies there's no real credible source. Just words going around. We won't know until next week.
Correct. On that note, they posted their first startup video today. Who knows if this was recorded today or last week, but I think its the latest of all the first start/shakedown announcements...
Embarrassing for Vowles tbh. This was supposed to be a car that they had focused all their resources on last year, and now they can't even make it to the first test? For their sake I hope it's because they decided to push the production button very late on an advanced concept, and not another 2019/2024.
Not a good look at all, for the aforementioned reasons. They literally said that 2025 was compromised so they could focus entirely on 2026. It's surprising they couldn't get a crash test to pass in time for the first test.
Not a good look at all, for the aforementioned reasons. They literally said that 2025 was compromised so they could focus entirely on 2026. It's surprising they couldn't get a crash test to pass in time for the first test.
When this happened to Alpine a couple of years ago, they had to quickly increase weight of components to get the car to pass the crash test. Not a good sign at all.
I am usually a pretty big Williams/Vowles defender. But this is unacceptable. Almost unbelievable. Made doubly worse by the numerous times we were told about how there would be no repeats of previous years’ tardiness or unpreparedness. New systems. New people. “A new way of thinking.” Whatever. Since JV was hired years ago, it was always about 2026. At the expense of 2 or 3 entire years of the team.
At the first hurdle, they have not only tripped. They have faceplanted with an enormous thud. And to have the gall to frame it as “we’ve made a decision not to participate” in the shakedown. What moron voluntarily gives up 33% of their on-track testing allotment at the very start of new regulations? Don’t treat us as idiots; everyone with an IQ over 20 knows you didn’t voluntarily miss the test. Even Cadillac, who didn’t exist 18 months ago, have got a car on track.
To me, this is worse than both 2019 and 2024 because it’s the start of the reg cycle. The learning and development curve is significantly steeper now than it was in either of those years. Falling three days behind now could easily domino into a chronic lack of understanding throughout the year as a whole and even beyond.
Sorry for the rant but I’m just in shock that they do not appear to have learned from the past, no matter how many eloquently-delivered monologues from Vowles said otherwise.
"You can't argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"
- Mark Twain
I'm seeing two rumors about Williams: One is that the car hasn't even passed the crash test yet. The other says the car is "significantly" overweight.
Either way, this is very embarrassing for James Vowles. All his talk about restructuring the team, about focusing very early on 2026 car development, is thrown out the window when the team repeats the same mistakes from years ago.
Williams F1 Team
1980 | 1981 | 1986 | 1987 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1996 | 1997
Alexander Albon 23
Carlos Sainz Jr. 55
