Alex Albon is aiming to improve upon a successful season last year with Williams.
According to Albon, Williams has addressed some of the limitations of its previous Formula 1 car in 2024, but has also identified new weaknesses that need to be resolved.
Last season, Williams had its best performance since 2017, accumulating 28 points and moving up from last place in the Constructors’ Championship to seventh.
However, the FW45 car relied heavily on specific conditions to perform well. Albon was able to capitalize on its low downforce capabilities, securing seventh place finishes in Canada and Monza.
This season, the team has focused on developing a more well-rounded package, aiming to eliminate the flaws that were present in previous cars under different regulations.
While testing has shown positive results for Williams, Albon admits that the team has encountered new issues with its revised FW46 car.
During Thursday’s press conference, Albon commented, “We haven’t done many laps, but the overall feeling is good. Last year, we had to address several issues that were consistently affecting our performance. We have managed to solve many of those problems from last year, but there are still some new challenges that we need to overcome. It’s all part of the learning process, but so far, things are going well.”
Albon also mentioned that the new car requires him to adapt his driving style, and he cautioned that the team may have a slower start to the season.
When asked about the team’s expectations, Albon responded, “It’s difficult to set a specific target. What is clear is that it will take some time to reach our goals. The new car is very different in terms of driving and setup. We may not start off at full speed, but we can make steady progress and hopefully score points in the upcoming races.”
Williams Team Principal James Vowles expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress and believes that the new car will not be dependent on specific circuit types.
“I’m pleased with the developments we made over the winter. We have moved away from a car that was only competitive in certain races but was difficult to handle,” Vowles stated.
“We have worked towards creating a car that is competitive in all 24 races. Our simulations indicate that we are heading in the right direction. It’s important to note that the field is becoming more competitive, and the rate of development is remarkable. This means that there will be significant improvements up and down the field, but these may not always translate into major performance gains. Nonetheless, I am optimistic about the future.”
According to the Source motorsportweek.com