Williams Unveils Radical Baku Upgrade

Williams team principal James Vowles has made a stunning admission. The Grove-based squad is planning to arrive at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in late September with what he calls “almost an entirely new car for Baku.” If you needed proof that the Williams new car Baku overhaul is real and urgent, Vowles just gave it to you in the clearest possible terms.

How Bad Is the Williams FW48 Right Now?

Williams has had an underwhelming start to F1’s new era, especially having spent so much of its efforts focused on preparing for 2026 last year, as its FW48 was completed late and overweight. That is a brutal combination. A heavy car is a slow car, and a slow car that also lacks updates is even worse.

The weight issue and lack of quick updates have continued to hurt the team’s progress, as it sits eighth in the F1 world constructors’ standings on just 11 points, only ahead of Audi, Aston Martin and Cadillac. For a team that finished fifth in the constructors’ championship in 2025, that is a serious step backwards.

Williams has failed to score points in the last two races, with hot conditions and corner profiles exposing the car’s weaknesses. Both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz have been frustrated by the lack of progress, with Albon finishing a lowly 17th, two laps down, while Sainz retired with an engine failure in Austria. You can read more about that painful Austrian weekend in our Austrian GP Reactions piece.

The current chassis remains compromised by excess weight. It is still overweight, but by a significantly reduced number compared to where it was at the beginning of the season. Still, not where it needs to be.

The Williams New Car Baku Plan: Step by Step

Vowles has not just thrown his hands up. He has laid out a clear upgrade roadmap for the rest of the European season. Here is how it looks:

• Silverstone (British GP): A medium-sized upgrade package arrives at the British Grand Prix.
• Zandvoort (Dutch GP): Slightly bigger elements arrive, including weight reduction.
• Baku (Azerbaijan GP): It is almost an entirely new car for Baku. This is the big one.

Speaking to Sky Germany, Vowles was direct: “I think that’s one of the big reasons why you’ve seen us fall back a bit,” he said, referring to no upgrades in Austria. The team simply ran out of new parts while rivals kept improving.

In terms of moving forward with this car, there will be nice steps coming through all the way to the August break and beyond. Vowles believes that as the team goes beyond the August break towards Baku, the full potential of the car will come forward. That is a big promise to make publicly.

Williams Will Keep Pushing After the Summer Break

One thing Vowles said that really stands out is this. Most F1 teams slow down their development after the summer shutdown and focus resources on next year’s car. Williams is not doing that.

Traditionally, the summer break marks the point at which teams begin redirecting resource toward the following season. Williams, however, are planning to do things differently. “I don’t think many people will be adding the amount of performance we’re planning to towards that period,” Vowles said.

It is a bold call. It shows just how seriously Williams is taking this year’s fight, even if they are currently near the back of the midfield. Williams is not the only team under pressure either. Aston Martin is also planning a major upgrade package, with Adrian Newey opening up about the challenges ahead. Meanwhile, Norris’ title defence is hitting problems of its own, showing that no team has 2026 fully figured out yet.

Vowles’ message was clear: Albon and Sainz want proof of delivery, not public reassurance. The drivers are watching. The paddock is watching. Baku will be the moment of truth.

Looking Ahead: Can Williams Deliver?

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place in late September. That gives Williams roughly three months to build, test and ship what is essentially a new racing car. It is a huge challenge, but Vowles has delivered on promises before at Williams.

If the Williams new car Baku upgrade lands as planned, it could completely change the team’s second half of the season. The Baku street circuit is also famously unpredictable, which could play into Williams’ hands if the new package brings genuine pace. Vowles expects the team to keep moving up the field. We will find out soon enough whether that confidence is justified.

Keep it locked to rnt-motorsports.com for all the latest Williams updates as the Silverstone and Zandvoort packages arrive. And if you want to see how the rest of the grid is shaping up, check out our look at Cadillac’s real pace gains and how McLaren is pushing hard to stay ahead of Mercedes.