Williams Targets Confidence Boost in Monaco

Williams F1 focuses on driver confidence for Monaco GP, with Albon and Sargeant aiming for strong performances in crucial free practice sessions.

Like all teams, Williams F1 will focus its efforts on a strong qualifying performance this weekend in Monaco. Sporting Director Sven Smeets explains that the key will be building driver confidence through preparation during the practice sessions.

“After a disappointing weekend at Imola, we’re eager to get back to racing in Monaco. It’s a unique circuit where any mistake is immediately punished, but when everything comes together, a lap of Monaco is immensely rewarding,” said Smeets.

“As overtaking is very difficult on this circuit, it’s crucial to make the most of the car during qualifying. Therefore, the goal of the free practice sessions will be to find the right balance between qualifying and the race, while boosting driver confidence.”

“The tyres will be the softest in the Pirelli range, as they were in the last race at Imola. The weather forecast predicts unstable conditions over the three days, which will make it challenging to complete all sessions but will also provide opportunities to outperform our direct competitors in the midfield.”

A Track Better Suited to the FW46?

Alex Albon is pleased to be racing at home, as he lives in Monaco, and hopes the FW46 will perform better than its predecessors: “As we head to Monaco this week, I’m really looking forward to driving on this iconic circuit again, and it’s always exciting when the race is right at your doorstep.”

“Monaco has always been a track where our car has struggled, so I’m curious to see how the FW46 performs given our changes to make it more versatile across different circuits. Monaco is always interesting, with unpredictable weather and challenging overtaking.”

Logan Sargeant hopes to quickly find his confidence and echoes Smeets on the need to get into the rhythm swiftly: “It’s always special to race on the streets of Monaco. The track is incredibly narrow and leaves no room for error.”

“Therefore, it’s crucial to build confidence during the free practice sessions. Securing your position on the track is essential, as overtaking is difficult, making qualifying in Monaco one of the most important of the season. As a team, we will be looking to take advantage of every opportunity.”