Alex Albon issues honest Williams verdict ahead of Miami GP upgrade package

Alex Albon insists there is potential for Williams to take steps forward in the 2026 Formula 1 season, but admits that it won't be an easy task.

The Grove outfit started the season on the back foot after skipping private testing in Barcelona due to delays on the FW48. After it battled against an overweight car in the opening three rounds, Williams has been trying to make the most of the unexpected April break to develop the car. 

"It will be tough," Albon explained during an appearance on The Fast And The Curious podcast.

"But there's so much baggage on the car, I don't want to say it will be easy, but there's a lot of potential for us to go forward. So, it won't happen overnight, and it really is a race-by-race, chip away at it kind of thing.

"I think that, for example, we have an upgrade package in Miami. It will be better, but it won't be the best thing since sliced bread. Realistically, we are now repositioning our focus.

Alex Albon, Williams

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

"It will be to get back into the midfield fight and then get to the top of that fight. So, let's see. But, like everything with the new regulation change, the potential for teams to improve is massive. And by the time the end of the year comes around, we're going to have a completely different car than where we are right now. So, full push ahead. The factory is absolutely flat out."

Speaking in a Vowles Verdict ahead of the five-week April break, team principal James Vowles explained, "Every single hour of that break we need in order to get ourselves back on the front foot by the time we come back to Miami.

"Clearly we haven’t started the season where we wanted to, so that period for us is about taking stock of what we actually really can change."

The Miami Grand Prix will take place on 1-3 May.