Williams approaches the Belgian Grand Prix with the hope that the fast characteristics of Spa-Francorchamps will allow them to end their series of disappointing results from the reluctant FW42.
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Williams team principal James Vowles, who himself took the wheel of the glorious FW18 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (photo above), sees this weekend as an opportunity to start anew.
The Grove team, however, comes off a difficult British Grand Prix, which has raised questions about its latest developments.
A more rigorous method
Since the expected gains did not materialize on track, Williams launched a thorough analysis to understand the reasons for these difficulties, as Vowles explains: “We are reviewing everything we know from data and facts, but we are also creating categories grouping the unknowns. We then eliminate all elements we can answer to focus on the essential points. This will allow us to determine the direction to take.”
The Briton emphasizes the need to understand the current problems before considering the next developments of the car: “All this has a direct impact on what you do in the future and how you develop the performance you will then bring to the track. But if you don’t understand the current situation, you cannot improve the future.”
After several complicated races, Williams now hopes that Spa-Francorchamps will offer an opportunity to regain a more positive momentum.
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The big challenge of Spa
Vowles particularly appreciates the challenge posed by the Belgian circuit, whose three sectors impose very different demands on the cars: “Belgium is the next step. For many drivers, Spa is their favorite circuit, and I understand why. There is the famous Raidillon at Eau Rouge at full throttle, which wasn’t the case before car performance increased. There are also several overtaking opportunities. It’s a real challenge.”
The first and third sectors mainly favor top speed, while the central part of the circuit requires more aerodynamic downforce: “Sectors 1 and 3 are largely about straight-line speed, while sector 2 is a very technical section. This creates a very nice balance between the three sectors.”
Finally, the weather could also play an important role during the weekend. Spa is known for its particularly changeable conditions, even if current forecasts only predict a limited risk of rain: “The weather usually represents a challenge. I know we are currently in a heatwave, but that may not be the case in Belgium. We will see if we witness our first rainy Grand Prix of 2026.”
Despite the recent difficulties faced by Williams, Vowles wants to see the Belgian event as an opportunity to bounce back: “I like coming here because it’s a different challenge from most other circuits on the calendar. And it’s an opportunity for us to start anew and come back stronger.”
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