Williams' Vowles Reflects on Sainz's Penalties and Albon's Challenging Mexico GP

Williams team principal James Vowles admitted the Grove outfit “didn’t get it right across the board” for Alex Albon at the Mexico Grand Prix, and stated that Carlos Sainz’s race “was over after Turn 1” due to early damage and subsequent technical issues.

Why it matters:

Williams had a difficult outing in Mexico, highlighting the fine margins and technical complexities that can derail a race. Despite the setbacks, Vowles' candid assessment shows a team focused on learning from its mistakes as it navigates a competitive midfield, aiming to secure its strong constructor's standing.

The Details:

• Carlos Sainz's Race: Sainz’s race was severely compromised from the start. Damage sustained in Turn 1 led to issues with the wheel speed sensors, crucial for the pit speed limiter.
  • He received a five-second penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit by 0.2 km/h during his first stop, necessitated by significant vibrations from a flat-spotted tire.
  • A subsequent drive-through penalty was issued when he again slightly exceeded the pit lane speed limit during his second stop, despite manual control attempts.
  • Remarkably, even with these penalties, Sainz was still contending for a point, underscoring the car's underlying pace.
• Alex Albon's Race: Albon started 17th and finished 12th after a frustrating race where Williams' strategy didn't pay off.
  • He was one of only two drivers to start on the hard tire compound, which lacked pace early on.
  • Williams opted for a one-stop strategy for Albon, which proved to be the less effective choice compared to rivals.
  • Vowles acknowledged failures in communication and optimization of Albon’s performance, calling it “a blip in what has been a strong season.”

The Big Picture:

Despite the disappointing Mexico weekend, Williams maintains fifth in the constructors' standings with 111 points. This position reflects a largely strong season for the team, and Vowles is keen to ensure they finish the season on a high note.

What's next:

Williams will be looking to put the Mexico GP behind them and regain their form in the final four rounds of the season. The team's continued focus will be on optimizing race strategies and ensuring technical reliability to protect their strong position in the Constructors' Championship.