Williams feared losing Albon and Sainz after 2026 false start

Williams team principal James Vowles has revealed he feared losing both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz after the team's troubled start to the 2026 season, but both drivers have now signed long-term extensions despite the FW48's early setbacks. The new chassis has proven to be a step back from expectations, arriving late and overweight after a promising 2025 campaign that saw Sainz score multiple podiums.

Why it matters:

Holding onto two proven race winners stabilizes a team desperately trying to build long-term momentum. Vowles called the pair "world championship material," and their exits would have gutted factory morale and signaled to rivals that Williams' upward trajectory had stalled.

The details:

• Contract extensions: Albon committed through 2027, while Sainz signed a fresh multi-year deal, choosing to stay even as the car missed the Barcelona shakedown and struggled for pace.
• Chassis troubles: The FW48 was found to be overweight, forcing the team to shed kilos ahead of further upgrades expected at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
• Factory boost: Rather than criticizing the team, both drivers visited Grove to rally staff. Vowles said the re-signings lifted a weight off the factory floor, with employees now moving forward at a "much faster pace."
• Context: The slump stings after 2025, when Sainz finished on the podium in Azerbaijan and Qatar and Williams secured fifth in the constructors' championship.

What's next:

With the driver line-up secured, pressure mounts on the technical team to deliver. Vowles hopes the upcoming Azerbaijan package proves the team has a clear development path. If the upgrades materialize, Williams can still turn its season around and justify the faith both drivers have shown.