Williams boss details Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon warning ahead of car delay

Williams team principal James Vowles has revealed he warned his F1 drivers there would be bumps in the journey towards a return to competitiveness before its 2026 setbacks occurred.

The Grove-based squad opted to skip the Barcelona shakedown event last week as it faced complications with its new car.

However, Vowles has asserted that it will be ready to take to the track in Bahrain for the second pre-season test next week, where it plans to get its season up and running.

The hiccup for Williams comes after a successful 2025 season, which saw it end the year fifth in the constructors' championship - its best result since 2017.

With Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon forced to wait to get behind the wheel, Vowles insisted it has created no internal conflict.

“They stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me,” Vowles told media including RacingNews365.

“They're clearly, as I am, disappointed. They're racing drivers.

“They want to be out there testing the car, and whilst they're in our driver in-loop simulator in tandem now to increase that programme, it isn't the same.

“But they also both signed up, not for the journey of 12 months, but for a team that wants to fight back up to the top.

“Some of these dangers I warned both of them about beforehand, and they need to be by my side.”

Vowles has consistently detailed that his vision to bring Williams back to the front of the grid is a multi-year project.

Despite the recent setback, Vowles insisted his approach will not deviate.

“We are going to push this team to the absolute limit in order to really maximise our journey to the front,” he said.

“Now, clearly this is an output that was on the extreme end, and we have to acknowledge that, but even so, they are very much with the team hand in hand.”