Williams improvements "will not suffice" to resolve 2026 F1 challenges, according to James Vowles.

"It's been a difficult year, and it will remain challenging until the end," the Brit stated. 

"There’s no denying it. Many of the errors we made during the winter will linger with us throughout this year. Our goal is to ensure we are back on track by the time we transition to next year's car."

Williams is set to roll out significant upgrades at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but Vowles was straightforward about the immediate effects of these updates on performance.

Carlos Sainz, Williams

"We’ll see minor improvements this year, but they won’t be sufficient to reach even the minimum standard I would like, which is to score points on a race weekend," he remarked.

"That is simply not where we stand at this moment. However, looking ahead to next year, I am optimistic that we will progress on the grid. It’s challenging to go backward. I believe we will advance, but it will still be a tough journey."

Currently, Williams occupies the ninth position in the constructors' standings, sitting just above Aston Martin and Cadillac. 

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is scheduled to take place from 24-26 September at the Baku City Circuit.