P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alex Albon has outlined where Williams is playing catch-up to its F1 rivals
Alex Albon explains that Williams is focusing on understanding the energy deployment of the 2026 Formula 1 power units as they play catch-up at the Bahrain test. Due to production delays, Williams missed the Barcelona shakedown, making it the only team not to run its car on track. Despite this setback, the FW38 debuted at Silverstone before being publicly revealed at the Bahrain test. Albon and Sainz have accumulated over 130 laps in the first two days, indicating progress in making up for lost time. Although the team is behind, they are reaching the required mileage, with a clear run plan in place. The missed track time in Barcelona has been costly due to the significant rule changes for 2026, but Williams has mitigated the damage through Virtual Track Testing. Albon acknowledges that they are still learning about energy deployment, unlike other teams who may already have a good understanding, emphasizing the importance of efficient driving. Overall, the team is enjoying the challenge and working towards improvement as testing at Bahrain continues with a second three-day session scheduled for next week from 18-20 February.
