James Voules: We switched early to 2026.

      This year, Williams has barely completed the current car, focusing on 2026. Team leader James Vaulz hopes for serious progress…

      James Voules: "We started early with the 2026 car in the wind tunnel, and there were reasons for that. Unlike many others, we are not transferring anything from this year's car to 2026, which allowed us to carry out a complete reboot, start from scratch and solve some conceptual problems that should have been solved a few years ago. Back then, it was difficult to do this in the machine development cycle, but now there is such an opportunity.

      In fact, some kind of work continues with the operating machine. In particular, Barcelona will have a new front wing, in accordance with the latest amendments to the regulations. We have several ideas for a later period, but during the development process we are trying to find concepts and solutions that will carry over to next year, allowing us to use the experience and knowledge gained in the 26th.

      We must be realistic. The reason why we almost completely switched to the 2026 project is the desire to lay a good foundation for further movement.  Our pace of development and work efficiency will not be the same as those of the strongest teams while we go through the process of correcting and improving what was not functioning before. I am very pleased with how the team works, how thousands of people work together. But we have a long way to go before we get on the same level as the leaders."