Williams F1 Struggles with FW48 Handling Flaw in 2026

Williams Formula 1 team is grappling with a challenging start to the 2026 season, marked by a recurring handling flaw in its FW48 car that has resurfaced under the new regulations, according to drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. The Grove-based outfit, which finished fifth in the constructors' championship last year, sits ninth with just two points after the opening races, trailing midfield rivals like Haas, Alpine, Audi and Racing Bulls.

Sainz, who joined Williams ahead of the 2025 campaign and secured two podiums that season, first noticed the issue during his initial laps in a Williams car at the Abu Dhabi test. The problem manifests as reduced load on the inside-front tire in certain corners, creating a sensation of the car behaving as if it is on three wheels and leading to a loss of front-end grip. "It seemed like the Williams had this vehicle dynamic characteristic that surprised me from the first lap," Sainz said after the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. He and Albon adapted to it last year through setup changes and development, but the 2026 rules, which reduced overall downforce across the grid, have amplified the flaw.

Albon, who has experienced the trait since...