Williams treats Sainz and Albon as test drivers for 2027

Williams has used parts of its final Formula 1 weekends this season to run experimental work aimed at its 2027 car, rather than maximising results in 2026. Carlos Sainz said he is effectively a test driver for this part of the year and does not mind finishing 15th or 17th, as long as the team learns from the running.

The team has struggled since a late and overweight arrival in Bahrain, sitting ninth of 11 teams on points. Its high-rake aerodynamic concept proved the root problem, and Williams chose not to follow Aston Martin's route of an in-season B-spec car because it would cost too much. Team boss James Vowles said the team has left performance in the tunnel to avoid spending resource on a smaller return this season.

Albon said almost no simulator time at the factory is now spent on the 2026 car, with the focus on next year's machine. Friday practice running is being used to link real-car set-up experiments to the design and simulation work at Grove.