Alex Albon was left frustrated after a suspected gust of wind sent him off the road in the closing stages of the Spanish GP, exposing the sensitivity problem that has been a topic at Williams in recent years.
Having started from the pitlane, Albon was running 18th and chasing Kevin Magnussen when, on lap 59, a sudden snap of oversteer sent him through a gravel trap. The off cost him around nine seconds and any chance of catching the Haas driver ahead, but he managed to resume in front of the chasing Yuki Tsunoda.
He immediately asked his team, “What the hell was that?”. The team’s response was – “It’s all OK from our side.”
Not happy with the prompt reply, he said, “No, it’s not OK. Don’t just say that in five seconds.”
Further discussion ensued, and after the flag, Albon was told that there was a 17kph gust at the point where he went off.
“The wind’s been up and down all race,” he said when asked about the incident.
“I don’t know how it was for everyone else, but for a car that’s sensitive in the wind, it was not enjoyable.
“Doing our race, I felt like we were on plan to get the Alfa [Valtteri Bottas] and the Haas in front of us. We had a good tyre strategy, I think we were doing the right choices. The main issue was really that off.
“But I know what the limit is on my car, and that wasn’t the limit – and I had a huge off. So I got told there was nothing wrong immediately afterwards. I was [asking if] there is something wrong.
“In the end, I think we had a big gust just when I hit the brakes. We don’t like gusts, and it just caught me out. One of those things.”
Despite known limitations at Williams, Albon wanted more
Albon and Williams knew that Barcelona would be a tough weekend. Nevertheless, he was not satisfied with the outcome, as the team fell behind its rivals.
“I wanted more,” he said. “I look at it two ways: compared to last year, the car has made a huge step forward. So, in that sense, I’m happy. At the same time, that whole midfield is so much stronger now that that’s not enough.
“And second to that is just when the midfield is getting so tight. And when we are in some ways, catching and we’re getting closer to the top, to the leaders – being a bit overweight, lacking a little bit of load, it adds up, basically.
“And I’m not saying that this weekend exposed us, but I think it just highlights for us a little bit. It was a windy track, a hot track, on a very well-known track for everyone else. To me, just highlights the load, and that’s what’s not quite there.
“Yet, we’re good on tracks which are a little bit more unique and unconventional. But when we come to a track everyone’s been to, drivers have done a million laps, everyone’s confident around the circuit. You can’t really make that difference.”
Albon remains hopeful that the next two races will be better for the FW46.
“Look at Monaco, look at Canada,” he said. “Good pace in the car, real pace as well. Nothing odd about it, no weird weather or anything like that. [For] Austria and Silverstone, let’s see.
“I think what was clear about Monaco and Canada. Tyres were quite easy, as in they were both kind on the tyres. There was no wind because they are street tracks. So it kind of played to our advantage a bit more. So I hope for a non-windy Silverstone!”
One positive note was that Williams gave up Albon’s lowly 19th grid position for a pitlane start. This meant he raced with a new energy store and control electronics, thus reducing the chances of a penalty later in the year.
“It was a race we could, in some ways, use to sacrifice a little bit, get some components in the pool, and just basically prepare a bit more for Austria and Silverstone, tracks that should suit us much more.”
