Rosberg 'shocked' by Williams' dramatic regression under Vowles

Nico Rosberg is "shocked" by Williams' dramatic regression in 2026, blaming an over-ambitious winter development that left the new car overweight. The former driver, who began his F1 career at Williams, says the team "messed up the winter" and is now paying a heavy price.

Why it matters:

Williams had been steadily rebuilding under James Vowles, with hopes of a permanent top-six or top-eight presence. Instead, the 2026 regulation reset exposed major weaknesses, leaving the team ninth in the constructors' championship with just 11 points after a promising upward trajectory.

The details:

• Williams missed January's Barcelona running and found the car overweight in Bahrain pre-season.
• A Miami upgrade hasn't helped: Sainz has six points, Albon five.
• Rosberg's verdict: "They tried to be very ambitious... It ended up backfiring, and they've got a lot too much weight on the car."
• The cost: 10kg of extra weight costs roughly three-tenths per lap. With a Mercedes engine, "there's no excuse."
• Aero concerns: Rosberg suspects the aerodynamics are also off, making the problem deeper than one fix.

What's next:

Rosberg calls it a "tough moment" for Vowles, who he rates highly. The former Mercedes strategist must overcome the weight disadvantage and aero deficit, but there's no quick solution. Williams faces an uphill battle to stop the slide.