Former Haas crew principal Guenther Steiner has questioned the way forward for Williams boss James Vowles, with the British crew struggling to recreate their spectacular 2025 kind up to now this season. Regardless of having earmarked 2026 as a possible step ahead, the Grove crew have fought in the back of the grid – P9 within the Constructors on the midway stage of the season.
Coming off the again of a P5 end within the Constructors standings in 2025 – which noticed Carlos Sainz safe two Grand Prix podiums in his debut season – and into a brand new period of F1 laws, hopes have been excessive that Williams may very well be on their method again to the very entrance of the F1 grid. Ever since lacking the Barcelona shakedown in pre-season, nevertheless, it has change into clear the British crew nonetheless have an terrible lot of labor to do.
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After securing factors finishes in 4 of the six opening rounds of the 2026 season. Williams have gone on a barren run for the reason that Barcelona GP, with driver duo Alex Albon and Sainz ending P17 and P18, respectively, on the Hungarian GP final day out. Issues have been made worse by Aston Martin’s introduction of a major improve bundle in Hungary, with the Silverstone crew seemingly leapfrogging their compatriots, and set to introduce their first energy unit improve upon F1’s return at Zandvoort.
Talking on the Purple Flags Podcast, former F1 boss Steiner stated he believes the clock is probably ticking on Vowles’ time at Williams, with the Italian arguing the crew are “going backwards” below the previous Mercedes chief strategist.
Steiner: Williams are going backwards below Vowles
Picture: Race Photos
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Requested for a deadline on when Vowles ought to have turned issues round for Williams, Steiner believes the 47-year-old may very well be dismissed after 5 – 6 races into the 2027 season if the crew haven’t improved.
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“They promised us in the beginning of the season, ‘We will probably be again; we all know precisely what to do’. Guess what? They are going backwards as a substitute of forwards in the meanwhile. All of the progress is within the fallacious route,” Steiner concluded.
