Vowles: Williams' Baku upgrade a small step forward, but not enough

James Vowles has given his verdict on Williams' final major upgrade package of the season, describing it as "a little step forward" after a tough opening day at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

Williams has struggled for pace all season, and this Baku package — the last major update of 2026 — is less about immediate gains and more about building the foundations for next year. With the sport's biggest regulation change in decades exposing the team's limitations, Vowles is focused on the long-term recovery.

The details:

• The upgrade centers on a new floor, with altered tail geometry, front corners, suspension cladding, and rear brake duct furniture.
• Despite running the Mercedes power unit — which powered five of the top eight drivers — Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz could only manage 16th and 17th in FP2, more than 2.5 seconds off the pace.
• Vowles admitted the midfield is so tight that "no one knows where they are properly at the moment unless you're in the top four."

The big picture:

Williams enjoyed a podium-filled 2025 but deliberately scaled back development to focus on the new rules. Vowles concedes the team "didn't have the systems, tools, capability" to handle the 2026 regulation shift and is still paying the price.

"We're still going to pay the price into '27," he said. "Such a large change and such an amount that we have to correct for it."

What's next:

More running will be needed to fully evaluate the upgrade, but Vowles believes it is "directionally right." The focus is firmly on ensuring Williams heads into 2027 with a stronger foundation — even if this season is already a lost cause.