'You'll see quite a major change' – Vowles gives update on planned Williams upgrades for rest of 2026

Team Principal James Vowles has detailed when Williams will be introducing upgrades this season as the team continues to struggle to reach the top of the midfield fight.

Williams were left on the back foot at the start of the new-for-2026 regulations, missing the shakedown during pre-season and initially struggling to make it out of Q1 in the opening rounds, with the team acknowledging their car was overweight.

Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, Williams sit P8 in the Teams' standings as drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon have managed only five points finishes between them.

Speaking in Friday's press conference, Vowles confirmed that major upgrades were still to come for the FW48 that would extend beyond the summer break in August.

"I'm impressed by how competitive the field is now. If you look at Racing Bulls, the rate they're developing, Audi, the rate they're developing, it's good to see. We have a sport where you have strong entities that are moving forward," said Vowles.

"Our goal, simply for the time being this year, is to be ahead of them and I think it's realistic with the development rate we've got, but it will go past the summer break. I don't think many people will be adding the performance that we're planning to towards that period.

"Silverstone will be a nice little step. There will be little bits that come to most races and towards Baku, you'll see quite a major change."

Vowles confirmed that a focus of the team in the days since the last race in Barcelona had been on its chassis, with Albon's car sent back to the team's factory to solve an issue.

"What we have seen several times this year is the balance isn't where we need it to be and slight differences between left and right corners," said Vowles.

"It isn't a large difference but it is enough that when you're really finely balanced and trying to get the most out of the tyres on a 50-something degree track, it gets exposed more than you would do at other circuits.

"That's part of the reason for making sure with the rig work back at the factory. The good news is that was very positive and we developed and made some changes here."