The 28kg problem that gives Williams hope for a one-second gain in F1 2026

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After finishing fifth in the 2025 constructors’ championship, Williams has scored just two points so far in 2026, despite its Mercedes power unit – certainly the best on the grid amid Formula 1’s technical overhaul.

The FW48’s gestation was very difficult, with four failed crash tests and a very late chassis homologation by the FIA, to the extent that the Grove-based missed the Barcelona ‘shakedown’ in late January.

Designed under technical director Pat Fry and engineering director Matt Harman, the car was consequently 28kg overweight.

“It's not complicated to bring it down,” team principal James Vowles said in Australia. “Already what I have in my inbox today is all of the engineering steps to not just bring it down, but actually be underweight by a good amount. That exists to us.

“If this was a cost-cap-free world, I would execute it tomorrow. It would be done in a few weeks.

James Vowles, Williams

James Vowles, Williams

“It's not, so you've got to time it with when those components effectively start to go out of life and when we will be doing upgrades later on in the season. It's a complexity, but it's a good complexity if you see what I mean. Cost cap is still net, very positive.”

Williams has used the five-week break caused by the Iran war to plan a weight loss program, with an initial mass reduction expected as early as this weekend in Miami, before the introduction of a brand-new chassis over the summer – requiring new crash tests.

The development process should be completed by the Italian GP, with the eventual gain one second, when the FW48 actually goes under the limit and can use ballast to improve the balance and reduce tyre degradation.