Williams head to their home race in Silverstone this weekend desperately in need of a positive result. They currently sit ninth in the constructors’ championship, only above scoreless Sauber.
Things seemed to be looking up after Alex Albon finished ninth at the Monaco Grand Prix in May, but that remains their only top-10 result of the season. The Thai driver has also come home 11th twice, which will only add to the frustration.
The last three races have been largely miserable, starting with a double DNF in Canada. They weren’t able to get a car into Q2 at either Barcelona or Spielberg, and couldn’t break into the top 14 in the races.
One cause for optimism will be the team’s performance at this event last year. Both drivers scored their second-best results of the entire season as Albon finished eighth and Logan Sargeant came home 11th.
Only Ferrari (18) and McLaren (14) have won the British GP more times than Williams (10). The last of those victories came in 1997 through Jacques Villeneuve, who was world champion that year.
The team have announced that academy driver Franco Colapinto will drive their car in FP1 on Friday. The Argentine will take over from Sargeant in the sixty-minute session before returning to his F2 duties.
F1 fans love Williams livery for British Grand Prix
Williams will adopt a special livery for this weekend’s race, displaying the Union Flag at the rear of their car. The flag will comprise images of more than 1,000 team members.
It’s the second year in a row that they arrive at Silverstone with a one-off design. They ran with a blue version of the UK flag in the same area to mark their 800th Grand Prix.
But even though some elements of the livery are familiar, F1 fans have still expressed growing approval. @Carra_23 called it ‘absolutely stunning’, while @chris2007_x dubbed it ‘awesome’.
@chattysian praised the ‘wonderful gesture’ from the management to the staff, while @crewclothing said it was ‘a livery perfect for a home race’. @UnplannedPixie wishes Williams would use it every weekend.
@DanJudgeCapito echoed those calls to ‘keep it for the rest of the season’. The reality is that the team will almost certainly revert to type in Hungary later this month, just as McLaren and RB did after custom paint jobs in Monaco and Miami respectively.
Williams line up three alternatives to Carlos Sainz
Colapinto’s appearance will be viewed by many as another signal that Williams are looking to a future beyond Sargeant. The 25-year-old is currently fifth in the F2 standings, while his fellow academy talent Zak O’Sullivan is 11th.
Vowles seems more inclined to sign an established driver, however. He’s been pursuing Carlos Sainz ahead of his Ferrari exit, and the Spaniard was set to sign his contract at his home race last month.
However, a late push from Alpine may have prompted him to change his mind. They’ve informed him that they could be using Mercedes engines in 2026.
Williams are growing tired of waiting for the 29-year-old. The Grove outfit may now turn their attention to Esteban Ocon, who’s leaving Alpine, or Valtteri Bottas, who spent four years in their colours before joining Mercedes.
They may also be holding talks with Daniel Ricciardo ahead of his possible RB exit. Ted Kravitz says ‘it’s a matter of opinion’ whether Sargeant will even see out the 2024 season, so there could be a short-term signing before a permanent solution.
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