Carlos Sainz, Williams driver / ANNA SZILAGYI / POOL
The Miami Grand Prix brought encouraging signs for Williams, as the team finished the race with both cars in the points for the first time this season. Carlos Sainz crossed the line in ninth place, ahead of teammate Alex Albon. Team principal James Vowles expressed satisfaction with the progress made, highlighting a notable aerodynamic upgrade package that helped reduce the significant weight penalty the car carried since the Australian Grand Prix.
The goal of leading the midfield again—after finishing fifth in the 2025 constructors’ championship—still seems distant. However, it depends on how well the FW48 evolves over the coming months, as the team aims to maximize performance through the three ADUO performance windows.
Carlos Sainz, who has already scored four points despite Williams’ difficult start, outlined a long-term recovery timeline. Speaking to PlanetF1, the Spaniard said: “It’s going to take a few months. I think we need to get to the last third of the season to see a real change, but at least the upgrades are working.” He added: “The car’s overweight has been reduced a bit, but we know there’s still room for improvement. We have some new parts coming for the next races, so we’ll focus on the positives and keep an eye on the negatives.”
Vowles also offered a positive assessment of what was seen in Miami: “We used the last five weeks to introduce several upgrades. Some were aerodynamic, like a new floor and bodywork. We added some elements to the front wing, modified the rear suspension, and the exhaust system. We also managed to slightly reduce the car’s weight, which made a difference.” He continued: “There are some things you won’t see behind the scenes, but they relate to working methods, how we extract data, and how we maximize car performance. In total, we’ve worked on about 30 points. The good news is that as we move toward Canada and beyond, some of those projects will continue and contribute to improved performance, though I don’t know what the others will do.”
