APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Williams Plans 'Almost Entirely New Car' for Azerbaijan
Following a disappointing start to the season, Williams is working around the clock on a drastic update, featuring an almost completely new car set to debut in September.
By Ruben Smit - 2026-07-01T09:47:27.000Z - 1 min read
The Williams Formula 1 team is enduring a difficult start to the current season, marked by lagging performances on track. The root of these disappointing results stems partly from the late delivery of the FW48 chassis, which was also overweight at the beginning of the season.
These troubles can be traced in part to the intense focus the team placed last year on preparing for the 2026 regulatory changes. As a result, development of the current car suffered, leading to several technical shortcomings, including a noticeable lack of pace.
Team principal James Vowles has now confirmed that a major overhaul is on the horizon. The plan is to introduce a machine by late September's Azerbaijan Grand Prix that, according to Vowles, will be 'almost entirely new'.
This ambitious move highlights Williams' urgent need to turn the tide and address the core issues of their current contender. The hope is that the thorough revamp will allow the Grove-based squad to compete much more aggressively in the second half of the season.