Albon reveals focal point of Williams ‘concept phase’

Alex Albon has detailed Williams is looking to “fundamental” fixes within the organisation as it aims to make a step forward in 2026.

The Grove-based squad brought in James Vowles to lead the team at the beginning of last year, with the former Mercedes strategy chief tasked with inspiring the former championship-contending organisation back to the front of the field.

Vowles has continually iterated that such an achievement will take several years to come to fruition as it expands its current staff set-up and upgrades its facilities.

Albon mirrored Vowles’ assessment as he outlined the importance of the years building up to the major regulation shift in 2026.

“I think we’re still going through a bit of a concept phase,” Albon exclusively told RacingNews365. 

“We’re still trying to understand what areas have exposed us in terms of limitations with our car and what areas have we still not really fixed that we still need to focus on.

“That’s more my focus, it’s not ‘we need finish in this position or this position’ – it’s much more of a global overview of the car.

“We need to change these things for 2025, we need to get these fundamentals right in our car which we’ve been struggling with at some tracks so that when new regulations come, we really have a good understanding of the areas we need to stay disciplined.”

Albon asserts role in Williams turnaroud

Williams currently sit ninth in the constructors’ championship after the opening 14 rounds as it endures a difficult campaign.

However, as Albon asserted the team’s focus is on improving the organisation rather than fixating on a tangible result, the Thai-British driver expressed he too can play an important factor in the turnaround.

“’Is it our sensitivities that we need to focus on?’ and vice versa – little things like that, we’re just using these two years to make sure the foundations are strong.

“I think Pat [Fry, Williams chief technical officer] mentioned it earlier this year around the turnover times that we have, building the car and giving the aerodynamicists more time to be able to really evolve the car in CFD or through wind tunnel [testing] and shortening up our building time.

“It’s a lot of these things which all play a part. 

“Some of them I have a big influence in especially more the balance of the car. There are other areas in which I have less of an influence.”