Williams Eye Baku Boost as Every Team's Upgrades Revealed

Baku's tight walls and tricky layout make it a bold place to debut major upgrades, but a significant number of teams have still brought new parts to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Williams are among those hoping for a step forward, though Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon remain cautious about how much their long-awaited package will close the gap to the opposition.

Why it matters:

Street circuits can expose even small aerodynamic mistakes, but they also offer a chance to reset competitiveness. With Mercedes and Ferrari standing still this weekend, McLaren, Red Bull and Audi are pushing development—while Williams' package could be an important indicator of their season's trajectory.

The details:

• McLaren lead the frontrunners' upgrade push with a wide-ranging package: revised sidepod inlet, engine cover, coke line, alternative sidepod, rear suspension fairings, new floor edge, diffuser layout and a rear wing adjustment for Straight Mode.
• Red Bull have made subtle floor geometry and sidepod changes, plus cooling louvre, mirror and halo revisions to preserve flow stability.
• Racing Bulls introduced a new front wing and brake duct, working with revised front suspension to improve airflow to the floor.
• Audi brought 14 upgraded parts—a completely new front wing and nose, front suspension fairings, floor, bodywork, rear wing and rear suspension—in a bid to strengthen their midfield challenge.
• Williams have an updated floor bodywork assembly, revised tail geometry, front brake duct flow conditioners, realigned rear suspension surfaces and a retuned rear brake duct. Sainz and Albon are cautious about predicting a major jump given the existing deficit.
• Cadillac focused on brake cooling inlets/exits, front suspension fairings and a diffuser adjustment for more local load.
• Mercedes, Ferrari, Alpine, Haas and Aston Martin have no new parts in Baku. Haas introduced their key aero upgrades two rounds ago in Italy.

What's next:

Friday practice will give the first read on whether these upgrades translate into lap time. For Williams, the focus is on building a foundation for future rounds; for the frontrunners, it's about maintaining momentum in a season where development gains are precious.