Williams may have stunned the paddock with Carlos Sainz’s remarkable qualifying performance in Baku, but team boss James Vowles has issued a downbeat forecast ahead of next week’s Singapore Grand Prix.
The shift from Azerbaijan’s high-speed streets to the tight, twisty Marina Bay circuit has the Grove-based outfit’s team principal bracing for a far tougher outing.
However, Vowles remains optimistic about the team’s prospects for the races that follow.
Sainz’s second-place qualifying in Azerbaijan marked a high point for Williams, showcasing significant progress in addressing their long-standing tyre preparation issues.
“We had a menu of about 10 items just to get the tyres in a better window and I think it worked,” he told the official Formula 1 channel.
“If we go back to qualifying, Carlos’ lap wasn’t magic to me – it was a good lap, but we were able to get the tyre finally into a good position.”
That breakthrough helped deliver a shock front-row start for Sainz, proving the FW47 can be competitive when the conditions align.
Reality Check Expected for Singapore
But Vowles was quick to temper expectations, warning that Singapore is unlikely to suit the team’s package.
“We were quick in Baku and we’ve been quick in Baku in the past,” he admitted. “Singapore’s going to be a tough matter, I think that’s just the reality behind it.”
“My prediction, and this could be entirely wrong, is we’re going to struggle in Singapore,” Vowles continued. “I think when we go to the max wing, we know that’s not what this car’s optimised for at all.
“For clarity, the wing that we’re running is a year-old wing. We didn’t invest in that downforce level. So that’s why I’m, unfortunately, fairly confident [that] it’s not going to be last [place], but it would not be in the position we are here.”
Encouragement From Development Gains
Despite the looming difficulties in Singapore, Vowles highlighted encouraging signs from recent upgrades and hinted that better days lie ahead.
“There was a little update that we sort of snuck in,” he revealed. “There was a mixture of developments which helped us in around Spa-time.
“We still had the focus on ’26, we did it in a slightly different way and I’m very proud of how the team went around that.”
The results have been tangible: Williams now sits 29 points clear of Racing Bulls in the battle for fifth in the Constructors’ standings.
“At the beginning of the year we knew it’d be very tight in the midfield, but to still be here now and actually pulling a little bit of – I wouldn’t say quite comfortable yet – but a little breathing room to the others is a great reward for a team that’s really pushing on.”
Eyes on Future Tracks
While Vowles accepts Singapore may be a low point, he expects the FW47 to come alive again at several other venues.
“Going forward from there though, there’s some great tracks for us. Abu Dhabi I think would be very good, Vegas would be good for us, I think Brazil and Mexico would be very good for us as well.
“So I think there’s a few on the calendar still where we’ll have a good opportunity.”
“I might regret these words but what we’ve said already is this car, if you look all season long, apart from where we haven’t had reliability [and] we haven’t finished races, Alex and Carlos had the opportunity to score points at most events,” Vowles added.
“That’s a difference to a year ago so I think there’s more good than bad following and we’ve just got to make sure we keep scoring when the points are available.”
Vowles’ cautious optimism reflects a team on the rise, navigating a delicate balance between immediate challenges and long-term ambitions.
While Singapore may test their resolve, Williams’ recent strides suggest they’re ready to capitalize on opportunities in the races ahead.
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