Williams boss James Vowles has revealed that the team is poised to “struggle” next term as it aims to hit the ground running upon Formula 1’s rules overhaul in 2026.
The impending regulation change is being billed as one of the biggest the series has seen as the return to lighter and smaller cars coincides with power unit changes.
Williams, who has been situated in the bottom five in the Constructors’ Championship since 2018, is among the sides aiming to capitalise to rise up the pecking order.
Vowles disclosed earlier this season that he has hired close to 250 people since he was appointed in 2023 as he endeavours to return Williams to the sharp end in F1.
However, the Grove-based squad’s increased attention on the upcoming reset is expected to have an impact on how competitive it transpires the team is next season.
But while it will welcome three-time F1 race winner Carlos Sainz, Vowles claimed that Williams’ anticipated setback in 2025 will not be a surprise to him or Alex Albon.
“It’s the message that Alex and Carlos both know: 2025 will be a struggle, I think,” Vowles told Autosport.
“It’s not that you’re going to see us moving forward, we’re going to move back a little bit.
“And if we are, I’m okay with that, because it simply says that I’m investing at the right rate for ‘26 compared to those around me.
“That’s what we should be expecting from it: we are going to compromise ’25. That doesn’t mean we’ll be tenth, but it’s going to be a hard year.”
Williams ‘fortunate’ to finish seventh in 2024
Vowles’ maiden season at the helm delivered Williams’ greatest season since 2015 as the team managed to amass 28 points to edge AlphaTauri [now RB] to seventh.
However, the British outfit endured a stuttering start to this campaign as rushed deadlines to construct the revamped FW45 car saw several parts come in overweight.
Williams has launched an impressive revival since reducing that excess bulk, though, with a double points score in Baku last month putting it above Alpine into eighth.
“I think we were fortunate to finish seventh last year,” Vowles added.
“RB was bloody quick at the end of the year, and it was really just a matter of one strategic call, almost, that defined who finished ahead in the championship. We still finished seventh.
“This year’s car was performing. I think I was quite open in how overweight we were.
“Just take that time off and you’ll see that we shouldn’t be where we are in the championship.
“Now that we’ve had the performance, taking the weight off the car, we’re back to where I would have expected us to be – which is therefore not a step backwards.”
Williams want to make ‘leaps forward’ in F1
Vowles has admitted that Williams’ desire to make substantial steps over the coming seasons is going to see the team endure occasional slip-ups with the new rules.
“We are trying to do leaps – not steps forward, not inching forward, not minimal gains, or marginal gains even, but leaps in the technology and what we’re doing,” he said.
“And in doing so, we’re going to trip ourselves up. And I’m comfortable with that, because we can’t unlearn what we’ve learned.
“I give you almost a guarantee: unfortunately, we’re going to trip ourselves again.
“[It won’t] be in ‘25, for what it’s worth. I think we’ve got enough of a good pathway to lead us there.
“In ’26, what we’re asking of the organisation is more than we can deliver. So we’ve got to make it fit or perhaps trip up a little bit along the way.”
READ MORE: Carlos Sainz arrival will give Williams the ‘best driver line-up’ in F1 – James Vowles
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