Williams crisis: Even Aston Martin now “in a completely different league”

– The Williams crisis continues even after the end of the Formula 1 summer break. “We are pretty much exactly where we expected to be, namely far behind,” summarizes Carlos Sainz after the Dutch Grand Prix, which Williams finished in the last two positions.

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Although positions 16 and 17 are not entirely representative because Sainz and teammate Alexander Albon collided shortly before the end of the race. But even without the incident, Williams would once again have scored no points – for the sixth time in a row now.

“We lack pace in the car,” admits team principal James Vowles and emphasizes: “We have to make sure that we make the car efficiently and quickly more competitive. But that will only be the case in a few races.” Because the “B-version” of the Williams FW48 is only supposed to come in Baku.

That means: The last two European races in Monza and Madrid must still be contested by the team with the current package. And according to Sainz, there will hardly be any chances for a top-10 result. “At the moment we are only faster than Cadillac,” the Spaniard makes clear.

Even Aston Martin has passed Williams in the pecking order due to its recent updates. “You could see how fast the Astons were in the race. They are now playing in a completely different league. That’s why we couldn’t keep up with them,” says Sainz.

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Photo series: Zandvoort: The driver ratings from Marc Surer and the editorial team

“Actually, we couldn’t keep up with anyone,” he makes clear and at the same time emphasizes that this was no surprise. “If you look at the last five races, then that is exactly the position we have been in for the last five races,” says Sainz.

Zandvoort was therefore not a negative outlier for Williams, but merely a continuation of the crisis that had already begun before the summer break. Williams last scored points at the Monaco Grand Prix in early June. That was almost three months ago now.

At least: The next race takes place in Monza, and the track there was “always a good circuit” for Williams, recalls Albon. In fact, they have scored points there every year since 2021. “We have the best power unit on the grid, that should help us,” says Albon.

“But I don’t expect points,” he also makes clear. Because even on comparatively good tracks for the car, top-10 results are probably not possible under normal circumstances in the current Williams.

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