(Motorsport-Total.com) – After only eleven points from the first eight race weekends, Williams is trying to get its 2026 season back on track with a technical update in Silverstone. But before the 2026 British Grand Prix (follow all sessions here in the Formula 1 live ticker!), team principal James Vowles deliberately downplays the innovations on the FW48 of Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz.
Read more Formula 1 Live Ticker: The Sprint Qualifying in Silverstone
At Sky, Vowles said the front wing update was “simply another step in the right direction” and gave Williams “significantly more options” for vehicle balance. In free practice, the car already behaved “better,” “but it is still not enough. There is still a lot of work ahead of us,” said Vowles.
In the short term, the car will not be significantly faster despite the new parts. Relief will only come with the already announced “B version” of the FW48, which is to debut in Baku. “Until then, we will improve our car in detail, but these improvements are not big enough to make a decisive step forward in the midfield,” said Vowles.
The individual updates of the teams for Silverstone
For Silverstone, Williams has completely revised the front wing: new geometry, changed wing profiles, and adapted side endplates. With this, Williams wants to generate more downforce on the front axle and ensure better airflow to the other aerodynamic surfaces.
Read more Formula 1 Live Ticker: The Sprint Qualifying in Silverstone
With its front wing update, however, Williams is not following the trend for Silverstone: most technical innovations this weekend were made at the rear of the cars. Red Bull, for example, is using modified winglets on the rear axle, as is Ferrari. Ferrari has also optimized its cooling capacities in this area.
Haas traveled to Great Britain with a completely new rear wing. Particularly striking are the side endplates, which now have clear contours on the surface. This is supposed to generate additional downforce. McLaren and Racing Point also aim for more downforce with their floor updates.
With Alpine, Aston Martin, Audi, Cadillac, and Mercedes, five of eleven teams have not submitted technical updates in the official document of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile). Nevertheless, these teams could have new parts: parts that, for example, have become lighter but remain externally unchanged do not have to be submitted as an update.
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