Monaco Grand Prix Highlights Williams F1’s Weight Reduction Progress
Williams F1 has made significant strides in reducing the weight of its car, shedding 14kg compared to the previous year. However, the team still needs to trim down its chassis weight by a similar amount to reach the minimum weight limit of 798kg. The additional weight is estimated to cost the team around 0.45s on average circuits like Imola, masking the progress made in recent months.
During the Monaco Grand Prix, Alex Albon secured the first points for Williams in the 2024 season with a ninth-place finish in both qualifying and the race. Albon outperformed cars from Red Bull, Alpine, and Aston Martin, qualifying within seven tenths of pole-sitter Charles Leclerc.
The tight street circuit of Monaco minimized the penalties of the added weight, showcasing the team’s potential once further weight reduction is achieved. Despite the positive results in Monaco, Williams acknowledges the challenges of shedding the excess weight and the need for continuous improvement.
Head of Vehicle Performance, Dave Robson, expressed optimism for Williams’ progress but highlighted the difficulties in out-developing its competitors due to production delays and crash damage setbacks. The team aims to bring upgrades and close the gap to teams like Alpine and Haas throughout the season.