Alex Albon pinpoints Williams' Achilles' heel in ongoing F1 odyssey

Alex Albon believes Williams is undertaking the "biggest effort I've seen" to fix the ongoing "genetic DNA" problems affecting its performances in F1.

Whilst the FW48 has struggled owing to being overweight in 2026, both Albon and Carlos Sainz have struggled for performance on tracks which long been the team's Achilles' Heel. 

These circuits include ones with medium to high speed corners, and ones which are of a constant radius, including Barcelona and Hungary. This has long been a trait for the team, even stretching back to the advent of the turbo hybrids in 2014, where the cars would be strong on low-downforce circuits but struggle on higher-level ones. 

A new front-wing was deployed at Silverstone for the drivers, and whilst this did bring a boost in performance, it was not as much as expected, with the team set to bring a huge package to September's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Albon impressed at how the team is working to eradicate the "genetic DNA" issues affecting the car.

"We know the weaknesses of the car, we know the direction [we need to take], and the work that's been done at the factory is the biggest effort I've seen from the team to fight these genetic DNA problems it has," Albon told media, including RacingNews365. 

"I think we're doing exactly the right things to get back on track, and it is a shame we are here in the first place, but I do believe we are doing the right things, so it is cured by Baku, I doubt it. 

"I think a lot of the Baku stuff has happened, and that upgrade has been planned quite a long time ago, and a lot of what we're really biting into is next year's car.

"It is making sure next year's car doesn't have these traits."

Expanding on the problems which had affected him during the Hungarian GP, Albon described the wind affecting his rhythm. 

"Very wind-affected, and honestly, probably driving-wise, it's frustrating because I can't even drive," he said.

"Really, the team's not getting the best from me because I have to underdrive so much. The gusts, the wind, and we talk about free-wheeling. You try and push, and I think there were six laps in the race where the wind stabilised, and I could finally settle down and get into a rhythm, and then the wind picks up again, and then you're back into that cycle of just feeling like you're making mistakes, but you're not. 

"You're just racing at the same places, doing the same things, but just lacking consistency."