Williams F1 Team Faces Qualifying Setbacks at British Grand Prix
Silverstone, England — Williams Formula 1 driver Alex Albon has called for an internal review following a disappointing qualifying session at the British Grand Prix, where both he and teammate Carlos Sainz were eliminated in Q2. Albon secured a 14th-place starting position, while Sainz qualified 11th. However, both drivers benefitted from a grid penalty awarded to Oliver Bearman.
The Grove-based team had already been grappling with reliability issues, highlighted by their double DNF in Austria the previous week. Albon expressed frustration over the team’s qualifying strategy, noting a critical misstep during a red flag incident caused by Franco Colapinto’s crash. "We wasted a set of tires during the red flag," Albon explained. "Going into Q2 on a used set compromised our performance."
Albon further criticized the decision to attempt a new set on a congested track during run two of Q2. “It was too much; we need to understand why we like to go so early,” he stated.
Sainz echoed Albon’s sentiments, acknowledging the increasing competition within the midfield. "We’ve been caught in that narrow gap between P9 to P14," he noted. “The other teams have improved just enough to leave us behind."
Both drivers emphasized the necessity for an upgrade in performance to remain competitive as the season progresses. As Williams aims to bounce back, the focus will be on addressing these strategic miscalculations ahead of the race.
