Martin Brundle calls Williams' 2026 start 'very concerning'

Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle has described Williams' disappointing start to the 2026 Formula 1 season as "very concerning," highlighting the team's struggle to recover from pre-season setbacks and questioning the fundamental performance of its car. Despite Team Principal James Vowles's public confidence in a long-term rebuild, the Grove-based squad sits ninth in the constructors' championship after the opening three rounds, with only two points scored by Carlos Sainz in China.

Why it matters:

Williams's ongoing struggles underscore the immense difficulty of a midfield team's recovery under the current cost cap era. A slow start, compounded by technical delays, can create a deficit that is incredibly hard to overcome within a single season, jeopardizing crucial championship prize money and momentum for future development.

The details:

• Brundle pointed to a cascade of problems originating before the season began, noting the team missed private testing in Barcelona and arrived in Bahrain for official pre-season testing already "on the back foot."
• A significant issue was the car's failure to initially pass mandatory crash tests, forcing the team to add extra reinforcement that impacted the car's weight, weight distribution, and center of gravity.
• The former driver stated that, beyond these early hurdles, the FW48 "doesn't look a particularly good car either," suggesting deeper performance issues.
• Brundle emphasized the broader importance of a competitive Williams, saying, "We need them up there. We need them charging at the front of the midfield."

What's next:

The pressure is now on James Vowles and his technical team to find a development path out of the early-season hole. With the cost cap limiting in-season upgrades, Williams must be extremely efficient with its updates to climb the standings. The team's ability to address the car's fundamental flaws in the coming months will be the true test of its long-term project's viability.