Williams eager to bounce back after tough 2023 Spanish Grand Prix

Having endured a challenging weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last year, Williams head to the Spanish Grand Prix, hoping that the FW46 will deliver a much more encouraging performance.

Having retired from the Montreal round, Alex Albon hoped that he can turn things round in Barcelona. The Thai driver stressed the his current car, the FW46 should perform better than its predecessor given the fact that Williams targets to make its car more versatile over the winter.

"As we kick off the start of the triple header in Barcelona, it’s always a familiar feeling driving this circuit as we’ve all done a million laps around it from a very young age, always being an enjoyable track to drive with its mix of high- and low-speed corners.

"Obviously, our result last weekend wasn’t what we hoped for, so we’ll be looking to come back strong and see what opportunities arise for us as a team. The weather is looking pretty consistent, so let’s see how the FW46 performs with its more versatile characteristics," noted the Thai driver.

Williams Sporting Director Sven Smeets echoed Albon's words, claiming that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will serve as a real test for the Grove-based team's FW46 after its predecessor struggled for outright pace last year.

"We are looking forward to returning to Barcelona. It’s a well-known track for all the teams and drivers and there is always a great atmosphere with the tens of thousands of Spanish fans.

"We will be interested to see how the FW46 performs with its different characteristics, as last year the FW45 struggled at this track.

"The weather forecast seems nice and sunny for Friday and Saturday but with a risk of showers when the race starts on Sunday, which could make it very interesting.

Logan Sargeant has shown an improved form so far this season, but he is yet to score his first points in 2024. However, his qualifying performance last time out in Montreal was eye-catching, but a mistake in the challenging conditions forced him to retire from the action.

Expanding on the forthcoming Barcelona race weekend, the American said: "Heading back into the European leg of the season, I'm looking forward to racing at a track we all know well in Barcelona.

It's an exciting circuit to drive, although tends to be harsh on the tyres, so it will be interesting to see how the race unfolds. I'm hoping for a positive weekend in Spain.