Vowles recalls Albon offering help before he finished speaking
Archive photograph: Alexander Albon · Chinese Grand Prix qualifying, Shanghai 2026 · 2026-03-14Archive photo · 2026-03-14 · Liauzh · CC BY 4.0
James Vowles recalled warning Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon that Williams was in trouble and its 2026 car would be heavy. He said Albon offered help before Vowles had finished speaking, while Sainz asked several questions before asking how he could help, GPBeat reports.
Alex Albon offered to help before James Vowles had finished speaking, the Williams team principal recalled on Formula 1’s Beyond the Grid podcast. Albon’s response took Vowles aback; Carlos Sainz, by contrast, asked several questions before asking how he could help.
Vowles said he first warned the drivers around December that Williams was in trouble. The car would be heavy, he told them, but he did not yet know how heavy or what effect it would have on the Barcelona shakedown. He called again in January.
Early in the 2026 pre-season, Williams missed its first Barcelona shakedown. The FW48 was also severely overweight and lacking performance.
Vowles said both drivers flew to the UK soon after the calls and were with the team. He said their commitment to Williams was reaffirmed during the August break.
As of 7 October 2026, Williams had scored 12 points, with P8 its best result, and sat ninth in the teams’ standings.
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- PRIMARY SOURCEVowles reveals how he told drivers about Williams problemsFormula 1
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