Williams’ Formula 1 team is struggling this season mainly because its new car, the FW48, is heavier than competitors’ cars, slowing it down and hurting performance in races like the Australian Grand Prix.
Team boss James Vowles says it isn’t hard to make the car lighter — all of the engineering steps needed to reduce weight are already waiting in his inbox — but the team can’t do everything immediately because of the sport’s cost‑cap rules.
Williams plans to bring weight‑saving upgrades gradually throughout the season as parts are replaced anyway, which they believe is more cost‑effective under the spending limit.
Driver Alex Albon says the team is working hard and has an “aggressive plan” to catch up, but it will take time before the car is competitive.
Other issues like reliability and how the team manages the Mercedes power unit have also shown weaknesses, but weight remains the biggest challenge to improving performance.