Scarcely any updates, focus on '26: Why this team still excels in F1!
Williams is in fifth place in the constructors' championship and that seems like a miracle at first glance. James Vowles sees it differently, although his team's focus is actually on 2026.
Despite the presence of two top drivers, Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, the car they're contesting this season is not being developed largely because the focus has fully been on next year since early 2025.
No factory working on components for the '25 car, or thinking about updates. This season, Williams will not be making any more changes, as team boss James Vowles tells a small group of media - including GPblog.
The performances are all the more impressive. "I really enjoy the fact we're fifth this year," says the Brit.
"I think it's a fantastic element for ourselves, for our partners, for anyone associated with us. But the goal of this team is to win more championships.
"And you're simply not going to do that by continuing fighting for a position or two in a constructors championship."
Already in January of this year, it was decided to only focus on 2026, when the new technical regulations become effective. "
We're not doing anything more, and won't do anything more. And if that results in us being sixth in the championship, or seventh, so be it," Vowles adds.
Vowles sees compact F1 field
Prior to the season, Vowles estimated that the Williams car was good for fifth to eighth place in the championship because the power differences are small.
"If you look at our performance up until Imola and Miami, you'd say, yep, the car is in fifth, or because we're picking up good results, we're not making any mistakes, but the field is very compact."
"Then in Imola and Miami, I think we took the world a little bit by surprise as to how far we could push this car and develop the car.
"Then the development race kicked in and others have added performance. Ferrari have done a brilliant job in that regard.
"It was our update in Spa that brought us back into a position where we're again able to get the cars in the top ten."
Surprisingly strong WIlliams? 'Not really!'
All in all, Vowles responds to a question from GPblog, Williams is not surprised about the fifth place in the interim standings.
"I'm not surprised with it. I think any team could have had fortunate results along the way through. We did a good job when the car was quick."
"That is where I can point to 18 points we did not pick up that time. So I'm not surprised.
"I was surprised more in Imola, Miami that we were as good as we were."
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