– Alexander Albon experienced a bizarre and consequential incident during free practice in Canada. A marmot darting across the track not only ended its life but also abruptly ended the animal lover’s Friday. The unfortunate contact at the exit of turn 7 sent the FW48 directly into the outer concrete wall.
Read more DTM-BoP changed in Zandvoort: Ferrari will be slowed down after pole position
The result: The power unit, gearbox, and suspension were so badly damaged that the Williams driver had to watch the sprint qualifying as a spectator. Team principal James Vowles is extremely frustrated by the undeserved setback that abruptly halted the positive momentum of recent weeks.
“I feel infinitely sorry for Alex because he had the speed this weekend. He was fully there, and then such a completely crazy accident happens,” explains the Brit. “It’s just brutal bad luck. At first glance, it didn’t look that dramatic, but when we had the car back in the garage, the real problems became apparent.”
Strong speed brings smiles
Despite the severe setback, there is no doomsday mood at Williams. This is mainly because Albon was able to effortlessly keep up with the pace of his teammate Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard secured 10th place for the sprint. (The report on the sprint qualifying)
F1: Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal) 2026
“Alex is naturally frustrated because he was exactly at Carlos’s level,” reveals Vowles. “The car was great, and he would have had the same chance to get into SQ3 today. That it was taken from him completely undeservedly hurts.”
Nevertheless, the mental state in the garage is surprisingly positive: “If you had come to us right after, you would have seen us all smiling and laughing. Alex was in really good shape because the pure performance is simply there. When the car works and the driver has the pace, you usually get over such setbacks very quickly.”
Read more After Verstappen Defeat: How Hadjar Wants to Learn from Miami Disaster
Updates and restructuring show effect
For the sprint race, Williams now has to drastically lower expectations. The short run turns into a glorified test run for Albon. Vowles faces the facts soberly: “Let’s be honest: Maybe there’s still a point to be gained in the sprint, but the really big prize is distributed in the main qualifying and on Sunday. And for that, he is still excellently positioned.”
That Williams can even dream of the front midfield again in Montreal is due to a massive development program. After the first point of the 2026 season in Miami, the team further upgraded the FW48. The once overweight chassis has undergone a radical diet. “This is by far the lightest car we have ever put on the track,” the team principal is pleased with the progress.
In addition to changes to the floor, bodywork, and front wing, the engineers implemented no less than 32 different working structures between the races in Japan and Miami. In Canada, a newly positioned exhaust pipe is now coming into focus, which is supposed to generate additional aerodynamic downforce through so-called “Exhaust Blowing.”
- Formula 1Formula 1 live ticker: Sprint and qualifying in Canada live!
- Formula 1Hamilton with “incredible fun” to the “best qualifying in a long time”
- IndyCar“The bigger trophy …”: Mick Schumacher and his first Indy 500
- DTMDTM race Zandvoort 1: Ferrari driver Cairoli celebrates victory, Timo Glock unlucky
The technical package is flanked by a revised rear suspension, which according to Vowles provides a “much better balance through the corners.” Williams has also learned in managing the complex new power unit and is now doing “a much better job.”
Read more «Now I feel the limit»: Quartararo brings Yamaha into the Top 10
