New Williams F1 car feels “very different” in the simulator

Williams’ largest precedence for the FW46 was to treatment a few of its foul dealing with traits and switch it right into a constant factors rating at a greater variety of circuits.

Having sampled his new equipment within the Grove simulator, Albon has been inspired that the FW46 is already feeling “very completely different” than final 12 months’s machine.

“Very completely different – greater than something, completely different feeling, so a distinct driving fashion [is needed],” Albon stated. “I do not wish to converse too quickly, however the FW45 all the time had some constant limitations with the automotive, particularly once we went to tracks like Monaco or Barcelona they have been highlighted.

“Low pace was all the time an enormous challenge for us, braking was all the time an enormous challenge for us, but additionally high-speed, lengthy corners have been tough for us.

“Positively, within the simulator you may see that these areas have improved, however on the identical time that comes with fairly a distinct driving fashion. After we hit the observe, you may actually begin to attempt to perceive it and choose it aside.”

Alex Albon, Williams Racing

Picture by: Williams

When requested how a lot of Williams’ 2024 adjustments have been primarily based off his suggestions, Albon stated: “It isn’t simply my suggestions, it is each team-mate, even 2020 and 2021 once I wasn’t even driving the automotive, it had the identical points, so there has all the time been an inherent challenge with the Williams automobiles within the final 4 or 5 years.

“This 12 months particularly, we have sacrificed somewhat little bit of growth time on the FW45 to concentrate on the FW46, shorten the quantity of upgrades we had on the automotive, to make it possible for we tried to assault this automotive somewhat bit extra aggressively and actually begin to change the DNA of the automotive. That is the plan. Let’s examine if it occurs.”

Amid optimism over Williams’ capability to make important progress this 12 months, Albon thinks closing such a large hole within the factors desk is a wholesome objective to set if the brand new automotive is as versatile as hoped.

“I might say whenever you take a look at the place we completed final 12 months, we nearly held off our AlphaTauri however whenever you truly take a look at the hole to P6 and P5, that also fairly an enormous bounce,” he stated.

Williams Racing FW46

Picture by: Williams

“I wish to be preventing Alpine and nipping on the heels of that prime group. I believe that is a practical efficiency expectation for us as a group after which let’s have a look at the way it the way it unfolds.

“Podiums and wins, I believe realistically we can’t be there this 12 months. If we might be recurrently within the factors that can be nice. 

“With the change of method with our automotive, we must be constant to be that sort of prime six, prime 5 group, which we weren’t final 12 months. And I am very to see how we fare within the tracks the place we struggled; Monaco, Barcelona, these sorts of locations.”