From the start of the season, Williams was one of the big surprises on the grid. With a completely revamped lineup and a car that seemed to have taken a step forward in its development, the British team positioned itself as one of the strongest in the midfield. In the first eight races of the year, they managed to score points in seven of them, a statistic that reflected their progress.

However, just when everything seemed to be going well, the trend changed dramatically. After a strong performance in Monaco, where both drivers scored points, the Spanish Grand Prix marked an unexpected turnaround. From the practice sessions onward, the team appeared to be lacking pace and unable to improve. Initially, the poor performance was attributed to the characteristics of the track, which supposedly did not favor the car.

But the same pattern was repeated in Canada, where they only managed to salvage one point, and later in Austria, where the situation was even worse. At the Red Bull Ring, neither driver managed to finish the race. Carlos Sainz couldn't even start: during the formation lap, his car stopped on the track and had to be pushed by the marshals. After briefly rejoining and reaching the pit lane, a rear brake fire ended his participation before the race officially began, resulting in a DNS. His teammate, Alex Albon, also retired later due to mechanical problems.

With this result, Albon has now gone three consecutive weekends without seeing the checkered flag, while Sainz has scored just one point in the last three races, along with a DNF. The situation highlights serious reliability issues with the car, something the drivers themselves have expressed both in interviews and on the radio during the sessions. On-board cameras reveal a clear lack of balance and stability, something Sainz summed up succinctly after qualifying in Austria: "The car is impossible to drive."

For Williams, the situation is alarming. What began as a promising season has turned into a technical nightmare. The main problems detected include brake overheating, excessive tire degradation, loss of balance, and poor stability. The team currently sits fifth in the Constructors' Championship with 55 points, but Racing Bulls is now just 19 points behind.

If the problems persist and they fail to turn things around, the situation could become catastrophic. A higher ranking at the end of the championship means greater revenue and more resources for 2026, a season that will be crucial with the arrival of the new technical regulations and the complete redesign of the cars. Time is ticking, and Grove knows it: if they don't react quickly, all the work done at the beginning of the year could be for nothing.

Williams enters crisis after a promising start

Austrian Grand Prix reflections