Alex Albon has disclosed that Williams should stand to make a “big step” next season providing its 2025 Formula 1 car hits the minimum weight limit from the outset.
Williams has been unable to maintain the momentum that took it to seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship last term as it lies ninth with two points to date.
The Grove-based squad revealed last month that tight deadlines to assemble the revised FW46 have left the side with excess bulk costing up to 0.45 seconds per lap.
But despite introducing several parts – including a new floor – designed to reduce weight, Albon admits Williams still sits a considerable amount above the 798kg limit.
“There’s still a lot of performance in weight,” Albon divulged. “We’re still far away from where we want to be.
“We do have upgrades coming in, though, that are performance as well. I would say the carrot at the moment is more towards the weight than the aero side.
“And it is in some ways we are kind of comparing the two and seeing financially as well it’s a bit thing because losing weight isn’t cheap as well.”
However, Albon, who has penned a long-term renewal, has touted Williams is targeting seismic progress in 2025 to build on the “smaller” steps being made this term.
The Anglo-Thai driver has stressed the importance of the British side avoiding a similar situation next season to ensure that it can focus on adding pure performance.
“I think at the minute, we are kind of in a slightly different development path,” he expanded.
“So this year is a little bit more smaller things each race. Last year was one big step, which was this weekend last year.
“In terms of development, it’s still important, because really the regulations aren’t changing next year so whatever you gain from this year, you move on to next year.
“The biggest thing for us as a team is honestly just to make sure we hit weight targets, that would be our biggest step forward.
“So if we can get the fundamentals right in that sense, we’re going to make a big step as a team for next year.”
Despite the obvious limitation being imposed on Williams due to the added weight, Albon has advanced through to Q3 in the past two rounds and scored in Monaco.
However, the ex-Red Bull racer was on course to land another vital points haul in Canada until Carlos Sainz’s spinning Ferrari collected the hapless Williams at Turn 6.
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