Too little too late? What's resting on Williams's Baku upgrade

Williams has tumbled backwards in a season it promised to leap forwards, and its Baku upgrade may already be too little, too late. Ninth in the standings with 11 points, the team brings a weight-reduction package to Azerbaijan, but The Race's F1 podcast panel believes it will only help Williams catch up, not close the gap.

Why it matters:

Williams made clear its rebuilding programme was about being ready for 2026 rule changes. But after finishing fifth with a podium in 2025, it is now ninth, 59 points worse than at this stage last year. Team principal James Vowles set a baseline of fifth, so this slump is a failure by its own standards. The Baku upgrade is a key test.

The details:

• Williams averages 2.8% down on single-lap pace, only ninth-fastest.
• Baku package focuses on weight reduction to get under the limit, plus aero changes.
• Ben Anderson doubts a life-changing step unless 40-50kg is removed. It might allow Williams to fight the best Haas at the bottom of Q2.
• Edd Straw calls it "standard housekeeping" that eliminates negatives but won't make it a Q3 car. It brings Williams back to where it should have been much earlier.
• Samarth Kanal says rivals have "completely outdeveloped" Williams. Fundamental balance issues mean the aero map needs redesigning, pointing to 2027. This upgrade can only put Williams at the bottom of the midfield.

What's next:

Williams should be judged on its start to 2026. It must deliver a car that is on time, on weight, with the right aero and midfield competitiveness. If not, alarm bells will ring. Anderson warns this mirrors the 2023-24 cycle, where Williams recovered only to fall away again.