2025 Williams Racing F1 Team

[kptaylor]

Excellent teamwork from SAI to help tow ALB with DRS. I'm sure HAD was frustrated! Good points haul from them.

[Otromundo]

I'm very happy with the race. There was no bad luck and we have a good foundation to build on. Both drivers also showed they know how to work as a team. Both finished in the top 10; it's the first real joy of the year and I hope it can be repeated more times soon.

[Waz]

Nicely done from the Williams boys today and some decent points to the tally.

A solid baseline car but not sure if anyone saw Sainz interview yesterday on Sky after quali - he said they have already switched all development to 2026 because they have the base car to fight for points for most of the season.

The right move for the Williams long term for sure so good luck to them and il be interested to see whether they can ruffle any feathers next season.

Realistically what feathers would Williams ruffle? Unless they are very confident in a 2014 repeat, a better approach might be to focus on securing 5th for this year and see what happens in 26 with a simple base car and leftover resources to quickly copy the leading design

[JPower]

Nicely done from the Williams boys today and some decent points to the tally.

A solid baseline car but not sure if anyone saw Sainz interview yesterday on Sky after quali - he said they have already switched all development to 2026 because they have the base car to fight for points for most of the season.

The right move for the Williams long term for sure so good luck to them and il be interested to see whether they can ruffle any feathers next season.

Realistically what feathers would Williams ruffle? Unless they are very confident in a 2014 repeat, a better approach might be to focus on securing 5th for this year and see what happens in 26 with a simple base car and leftover resources to quickly copy the leading design

They wouldn’t have moved to full wind tunnel development on the 2026 car earlier than anyone else in the field if they were just going to copy the leading design.

[Waz]

Nicely done from the Williams boys today and some decent points to the tally.

A solid baseline car but not sure if anyone saw Sainz interview yesterday on Sky after quali - he said they have already switched all development to 2026 because they have the base car to fight for points for most of the season.

The right move for the Williams long term for sure so good luck to them and il be interested to see whether they can ruffle any feathers next season.

Realistically what feathers would Williams ruffle? Unless they are very confident in a 2014 repeat, a better approach might be to focus on securing 5th for this year and see what happens in 26 with a simple base car and leftover resources to quickly copy the leading design

They wouldn’t have moved to full wind tunnel development on the 2026 car earlier than anyone else in the field if they were just going to copy the leading design.

Which is realistically a mistake. Unless a 2014 style repeat happens and the Mercedes engine is massively superior again.

It would be better to focus longer on this year. There may be podiums to get in the 2nd half once the front runners switch.

Ferrari and Mercedes look likely to halt 25 development soon too, which would leave them beatable later if Williams kept going.

It often seems like F1 teams are always future focused and sometimes miss out on good results in the current season

[JPower]

Which is realistically a mistake. Unless a 2014 style repeat happens and the Mercedes engine is massively superior again.

It would be better to focus longer on this year. There may be podiums to get in the 2nd half once the front runners switch.

Ferrari and Mercedes look likely to halt 25 development soon too, which would leave them beatable later if Williams kept going.

It often seems like F1 teams are always future focused and sometimes miss out on good results in the current season

This isn't a BMW in 2008 situation. 2026+ has been the target since Vowles came on board in 2023. He's been pretty adamant about that. Even this year's car was developed early in 2024 so they would have the entire year to focus on 2026. There was no option to further develop the current car. Any on-track success that happens this year is a bonus.

Any off-track resources are being spent on the scheduled facilities upgrades and car development for 2026 and 2027. They have a new simulator, new buildings, and new tools coming online that are a higher priority to bring the entire organization up to par.

[Otromundo]

Which is realistically a mistake. Unless a 2014 style repeat happens and the Mercedes engine is massively superior again.

It would be better to focus longer on this year. There may be podiums to get in the 2nd half once the front runners switch.

Ferrari and Mercedes look likely to halt 25 development soon too, which would leave them beatable later if Williams kept going.

It often seems like F1 teams are always future focused and sometimes miss out on good results in the current season

This isn't a BMW in 2008 situation. 2026+ has been the target since Vowles came on board in 2023. He's been pretty adamant about that. Even this year's car was developed early in 2024 so they would have the entire year to focus on 2026. There was no option to further develop the current car. Any on-track success that happens this year is a bonus.

Any off-track resources are being spent on the scheduled facilities upgrades and car development for 2026 and 2027. They have a new simulator, new buildings, and new tools coming online that are a higher priority to bring the entire organization up to par.

Very interesting. Anyway, Williams already had some remarkable wind tunnel facilities, didn't they? If I'm not mistaken, they had up to two wind tunnels. They probably needed a major overhaul, but it caught my attention when it seemed like they were going to disappear, etc. Bad times.

What you say sounds logical, JPower. Besides, I'm currently getting some good information about those damned modern wind tunnels. And they're a whole world of their own.

...Wow, I didn't expect that. So SAI and ALB will have to practice almost guerrilla warfare. It could be interesting. Although it's a shame they probably can't get more out of the car now... they're sooo close.

[JPower]

Which is realistically a mistake. Unless a 2014 style repeat happens and the Mercedes engine is massively superior again.

It would be better to focus longer on this year. There may be podiums to get in the 2nd half once the front runners switch.

Ferrari and Mercedes look likely to halt 25 development soon too, which would leave them beatable later if Williams kept going.

It often seems like F1 teams are always future focused and sometimes miss out on good results in the current season

This isn't a BMW in 2008 situation. 2026+ has been the target since Vowles came on board in 2023. He's been pretty adamant about that. Even this year's car was developed early in 2024 so they would have the entire year to focus on 2026. There was no option to further develop the current car. Any on-track success that happens this year is a bonus.

Any off-track resources are being spent on the scheduled facilities upgrades and car development for 2026 and 2027. They have a new simulator, new buildings, and new tools coming online that are a higher priority to bring the entire organization up to par.

Very interesting. Anyway, Williams already had some remarkable wind tunnel facilities, didn't they? If I'm not mistaken, they had up to two wind tunnels. They probably needed a major overhaul, but it caught my attention when it seemed like they were going to disappear, etc. Bad times.

What you say sounds logical, JPower. Besides, I'm currently getting some good information about those damned modern wind tunnels. And they're a whole world of their own.

...Wow, I didn't expect that. So SAI and ALB will have to practice almost guerrilla warfare. It could be interesting. Although it's a shame they probably can't get more out of the car now... they're sooo close.

Haven't seen anything regarding the wind tunnels so I assume they are OK.

No mention of any update package timing but I think I saw Vowles say that if they do have one, it will be from things they found in later 2024.

[JPower]

Solid FP1. Can't really tell where they are in pecking order overall but seem to be head of the midfield so far.

[Otromundo]

Very happy, the car and everyone on the team are working very well !!!

[JPower]

Yep, that was as good as its going to get for qualifying this year. Just need a clean race and they should be able to hit double points again.

[F1subman25]

Carlos finding himself in a Massa style situation. Leaves Ferrari and goes to a Williams team who appear to be improving all the while.

[Otromundo]

I checked the weather forecast and several Miami webcams. It's dry, partly cloudy, and a bit windy. Rain is forecast after the race. Gusts of southerly winds don't seem to have much of an impact on the straights either. Let's hope the damned turns 12-16 don't accidentally get caught in the wind. I don't like that section at all.

We'll see what happens; a fair battle with Ferrari so soon and with good weather seems like a dream.

Edited : Four hours later, it's pouring rain in Miami. After checking several weather websites... it turns out this is what's happening. Turns 12-16 in the rain even seem dangerous to me: they could ruin the race.

[Otromundo]

Impressive. ALB was better than SAI today, but the two make a very good team. I thought SAI was saving tires to attack the red cars earlier. If he had overtaken at least one, it would have been the icing on the cake.

It was nice that it didn't rain in the end

[ScuderiaLeo]

I have no comment on Sainz, his move on Hamilton at the end was pure desperation.

Albon drove very well, pulled off some mighty moves. He deserved that result. I hope this season he can somehow get a podium. Just needs a bit of luck but it seems the pace of the car is there on some tracks.