'Everyone' at Williams is excited for 2026 as 'very important' James Vowles promise comes true – journalist

James Vowles has had high aspirations for Williams as Formula 1 nears a new era. The team find themselves in a position to meet those targets.

Since joining the team from Mercedes in 2023, Vowles has strived to improve the operation at Williams across the board. The team finished ninth in 2024, with multiple accidents hampering them financially.

The signing of Carlos Sainz to partner with Alex Albon gave them some optimism for 2025, but not much was expected to change. Vowles had Williams completely focused on 2026 and the new technical regulations, with not many upgrades planned for the FW47.

Despite this, the Grove outfit have made dramatic improvements on the track. Albon has scored consistent points, finishing P5 four times thus far, while Carlos Sainz grabbed a podium in Baku after a slow start to life at Williams.

Albon and Sainz have been frustrated by Vowles’ decision to focus on 2026 at points this year, seeing the potential in this year’s car. But as they sit fifth in the constructors’ championship with almost six times the points they grabbed in 2024, the team have every reason to be excited.

‘Everyone’ at Williams is excited about 2026 as James Vowles’ promises are being delivered

Vowles has noticed a ‘palpable’ change at Williams as spirits are high within the team. A huge part of that has been his work on delivering the promises he made this year and about next season’s targets.

Speaking via ESPN’s Unlapped, journalist Laurence Edmondson says ‘everyone’ at Williams has hope for 2026. Everything that Vowles had promised would happen ‘has happened’ and some, as they find themselves competing at the front of the midfield pack.

“Right from Vowles’ first moment stepping into the Williams factory in Grove in 2023, he said the target is 2026,” said Edmondson.

“He did something very important which is get everyone involved, so all of the investors in the team, all of the board on board with his plan of making 2026 the target. And that’s what it’s all been working towards.

“So, this year, there’s been very few, if any, proper upgrades to that car because right from the moment it went out at the launch at Silverstone and then went testing, that was it.

“That’s the car we’re going to race with. We hope it’s competitive, but it may well go backwards throughout the season as other teams outdevelop us, because all of their focus was going into 2026 and has been.

“Now, of course, a new set of regulations, even with all the wind tunnel time and cost cap going into a new set of regulations, you can still get it wrong.

“But what I think gives everyone hope at Williams right now is that everything that Vowles has said would happen along the way, has happened and then a little bit more.”

READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties

How competitive could Williams be in 2026?

Albon says Williams want to emulate Red Bull in how quickly they adapted to the current regulations. Vowles wants to get a head start over the competition and establish the team as a potential frontrunner.

The team principal is staying modest, however, as Vowles disagrees with George Russell about them being the team to beat in 2026. But their chances are strong, especially with Mercedes engines, which are tipped to be the fastest package next year.

Sainz’s podium in Baku and Albon’s consistency prove that Williams have what they need to be successful under the new regulations. They are already at the top of the midfield, and have the potential to push further.

Jenson Button predicts ‘many’ more podiums for Williams under Vowles’ leadership. That is certainly possible with their current trajectory.