Expects a car upgrade in Baku but cautions it may not close the gap
Williams has an upgrade scheduled for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but both team and driver say the step may be insufficient to return the team to midfield; the development race this year has left Williams further back than anticipated.
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The Race reports Williams 'awaits its big 2026 upgrade at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix' but Alex Albon expressed doubt it will be enough to make them a midfield contender.
Albon quantified the deficit, saying the car was 'really simply, 50 seconds behind the midfield' in the race at Madrid and that a 'pretty big upgrade' would be needed to erase that gap.
The Race frames the Baku package as a hoped-for step rather than a guaranteed turnaround.
f1i's Team Talk quotes James Vowles calling Madrid 'a very tricky day' and saying 'we have a small step coming for Baku'.
Alex Albon described Madrid as 'the best we could've hoped for' given the car and reiterated optimism that the Baku upgrade could 'move us up relative to the midfield', while remaining realistic it 'probably won't be big enough to shift us forward completely'.
Williams' public statements shift emphasis toward focusing development on next year because rivals have introduced multiple large upgrades this season.
Both sources indicate Williams is unlikely to be back into regular midfield points contention immediately after Baku.
The team anticipates an uphill battle for the remainder of the 2026 season and is managing expectations publicly.
Williams' strategy appears to balance bringing limited upgrades this year with prioritising the 2027 car development.