Williams team principal, James Vowles has often said how outdated the technology and infrastructure is at the iconic British team. Certainly a minnow of the sport now, Vowles compared the team’s 2024 equipment to be out of the “Ming Dynasty” when he chanced upon a humongous machine that as Autosport reported should’ve only been the size of a table. Despite the Briton’s admission of the team living in the past, their star driver, Alex Albon has come out with a reassuring suggestion that they have broken their shackles and made a few bold decisions to prosper in 2024 and beyond.
Soymotor.com quoted the British-Thai driver as saying,
“I think in the last four or five years there has been a clear way in which the car has been designed and this season there is a quite big divergence. We have taken some risks to move away from our old habits. What we are doing is the right thing to do and we will have to see if it works.”
️”Normally, it would be the size of a table.”
Williams #F1 boss James Vowles recalled coming across a ‘motorhome-sized’ machine from the “Ming Dynasty” at the factory that underlined where the team needed to invest to progress ⬇️https://t.co/qaegHNvZ3i
— Autosport (@autosport) February 5, 2024
2023 was a relatively successful year for the team who had made a habit of finishing last in the Constructors’ championship. On the back of Albon’s strong performances, the team clinched a respectable 7th in the standings last year. Naturally, in 2024, the team would be expecting to climb up the midfield ladder and establish themselves as regular points scorers.
In a build-up to 2024, Williams stopped developing the FW45 to focus on its 2024 challenger. With Albon’s admission, it would appear that the team have decided to aggressively push for development with that added $9,000,000 push they received last year. 2024 is an important year for the team, not only from the perspective of performance but also in a bid to retain their main man, Alex Albon.
F1’s silly season might sway Alex Albon away from Williams
Albon has proven himself to be one of the most in form drivers on the grid at the moment and Vowles knows this. While the team can retain the services of the 27-year-old if they manage to jump the likes of Alpine and Aston Martin in the Constructors’ next year, Auto Motor und Sport reports that Vowles is pessimistic.
With Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move for Ferrari already set to launch in 2025, the 2024 silly season has suddenly loomed large on the entire sport. 12 driver contracts, including Albon’s are coming to an end at the end of the year and the Grove-based team need to act quick if they want to retain their man.
FIA accredited PlanetF1 journalist Thomas Maher insists that Red Bull have NOT presented an offer to Alex Albon at this time.
His sources have suggested this could have been a tactical move from Albon’s camp to get the attention of Mercedes. pic.twitter.com/QkeJ41UleD
— leo (@formuleo_) February 3, 2024
Potential race seats can now open at Red Bull, Mercedes and elsewhere after Hamilton’s seismic announcement. Peter Windsor has already suggested that Albon has been offered a 3-year deal by Red Bull for 2025 and beyond. On the other hand, Toto Wolff might be very keen to induct the #23 driver into the Silver Arrows’ ranks to partner George Russell in 2025.
⚠️ | Alex Albon has reportedly been offered a 3 year contract at Red Bull Racing starting in 2025, according to Peter Windsor.
He elaborates further: “As I understand it, Albon has been offered a 3-year contract to start in 2025. So I think you’re going to see him alongside Max… pic.twitter.com/5wbiRMaqQl
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) February 2, 2024
Albon himself would not be wanting to dwindle in the lower rungs of the grid for too long. After proving himself to be a solid candidate for one of the top 3 teams, his own ambitions might spell the end of his alliance with Williams beyond 2024.
