Williams were a team improving in the last Formula 1 rules cycle. However, the new ground-effect regulations shifted them back to the bottom last year. This caused the firing of a few key figures in the team, including team principal Jost Capito. In came James Vowles from Mercedes, ready to take charge. The driver line-up saw a shake-up as well. Nicholas Latifi made way, and Williams Academy driver Logan Sargeant paired up with Alex Albon.
Their Season So Far
It is not visible in terms of points but Williams has made quite the jump in performance this season. The fact that there are more top teams now and they still remain in a congested midfield is not helping. They finished last with 8 points last season. In context, 9th placed Alpha Tauri had 35 points.
This year, points finishes have been harder to come by because more teams occupy the top spots. Williams still have more points midway through 2023 than they did at the end of 2022. This is largely because of some heroic driving by Alex Albon, but the Williams FW45 has played its part.
The car still lacks downforce compared to the rest of the field. This means it’s extremely slippery in a straight line. Alex Albon has used this to his advantage by getting in front of other cars and defending like a lion. The highlight for them was Albon topping Q2 in a wet-dry qualifying in Canada.
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Driver Performances
Alex Albon has backed up an impressive return to Formula 1 in 2022 with an even better 2023. He has shone in the midfield with his skillful driving and making alternate strategies work. His defensive driving has been tested, especially in two of his high-scoring races in Canada and Great Britain.
Logan Sargeant has had a decent beginning as a rookie. He is yet to score a point, but he isn’t massively behind his teammate. Logan came close at Silverstone when he finished 11th. He had a few incidents earlier in the season but has been much cleaner since moving to permanent tracks.
How has the car evolved?
It’s difficult to judge the evolution of a car at the back of the pack. However, their drivers have been happy with the upgrades and the car’s cornering speed has improved. It will be amazing if Williams can hold onto 7th in the standings.
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Predictions
Williams are tied with Haas in the standings. However, they are a one-man team currently. Williams isn’t a high-pressure environment like Alpha Tauri, and comments by James Vowles have made it clear. However, Sargeant needs to score a point to get the monkey off his back.
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