P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Heavy and short on mileage, the 2026 Williams car is set for a difficult start to the F1 campaign
Williams acknowledges that it is entering the new Formula 1 season at a disadvantage due to issues with its new FW48 car revealed during the Bahrain test.
Despite recovering some lost mileage during testing in Bahrain, Williams has realized that the car’s performance is not up to par with their expectations.
Team boss James Vowles remains cautious about the team’s performance for the upcoming races, emphasizing the need for improvement.
A significant challenge for Williams is the weight of the FW48, rumored to be 20-30kg above the minimum limit, impacting lap times.
To address the weight issue, Williams has a plan in place to reduce the car’s mass over the initial races of the season.
In a new rules era, Williams understands the importance of optimizing the car dynamics and energy harvesting to improve performance and stay competitive.
