{"id":28541,"date":"2023-07-16T12:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-16T11:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/?p=28541"},"modified":"2023-07-16T11:38:55","modified_gmt":"2023-07-16T10:38:55","slug":"alex-albon-says-williams-in-very-good-place-after-new-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/alex-albon-says-williams-in-very-good-place-after-new-upgrades\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Albon says Williams in ‘very good place’ after new upgrades"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alexander Albon’s eighth-place finish in the British Grand Prix may not have garnered the same attention as McLaren’s home success, but it had a significant impact on Williams’ standing in the constructors’ championship, elevating them to seventh place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was Williams’ best result on home soil since 2015, and Albon expressed his optimism about the team’s performance at Silverstone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite finishing in eighth, he acknowledged the realistic expectations set for the race, saying, “It’s almost like you’ve finished qualifying somehow disappointed with P8, but we have to be realistic.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albon highlighted the team’s strong start to the weekend, with impressive performances in all three practice sessions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, he noted that other teams caught up by the time of the qualifying session, suggesting that some were potentially sandbagging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this, Albon recognised the achievement of their result, mentioning that they were initially aiming for around 15th place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qualifying presented its challenges due to the changing weather conditions, with rain affecting the session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albon experienced tire degradation, particularly with the front tires, which impacted his performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on the session, he felt that the car had the potential to get even closer to pole position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team plans to analyse their qualifying performance to identify areas for improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albon emphasised the importance of understanding both the reasons behind slow pace and fast pace, as they strive for consistency and further progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s almost a bit that we understand and a bit that we don\u2019t. We need to kind of reverse-engineer. It\u2019s important to understand why you\u2019re slow, but it\u2019s also important to understand why you\u2019re fast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the race, Albon maintained his starting position thanks to the timing of the Safety Car period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He crossed the finish line behind Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, with the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. close behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albon admitted that they expected a tougher race after qualifying, considering the threat posed by Alonso and Sergio Perez starting behind them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he managed to bring the car home, securing Williams’ third points finish of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite losing two positions on the first lap, Albon attributed it to a poor start caused by fluid on the track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He mentioned that once he settled into a rhythm, the car performed well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a long first stint and strategic decision-making during the race, Albon took advantage of the Safety Car period caused by Kevin Magnussen’s retirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pitted from sixth place and emerged in ninth, enabling him to attack the Ferrari ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had better pace than Fernando, which was a bit of a surprise, but then Charles was coming quite quickly at the end,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo it was a race of forwards and backwards, one eye forward, one eye back, and it became a bit of a dogfight. I wouldn\u2019t have wanted that race to last one more lap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albon described the race as a constant battle, with him trying to overtake the car in front while defending against Leclerc’s advances from behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trio crossed the finish line within a second and a half of each other, and Albon acknowledged that if the race had been a lap or two longer, the outcome might have been different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think if it was one lap [longer], Charles would have got past,\u201d Albon said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf it was two laps, Charles would have got past both of us and I would have got past Fernando. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my theory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recent races have showcased Williams’ improved performance, with Albon delivering strong results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he anticipates significant fluctuations in the car’s performance based on different types of tracks and varying levels of downforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think our highs and lows are quite easy to predict,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if McLaren could have predicted their pace this weekend, but I think we can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s quite clear that tracks where there\u2019s a bit lower downforce and a lot of full throttle time, that\u2019s all us, that\u2019s how we like it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also important that the track remains quite cool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[On Sunday] the track temperature was dropping at the end of the race, which made us a bit more competitive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlso, not much braking [over a lap]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe less braking, the better for us. So Silverstone works out quite well for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, Albon acknowledged that some circuits would suit Williams better than others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still going to have our good circuits and our bad circuits. Spa-Francorchamps, Monza is still our focus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He mentioned that tracks with lower downforce and extensive full-throttle sections favour their car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upcoming Hungaroring race is not expected to be as favourable, but Albon emphasised that their focus remains on circuits like Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williams’ recent progress has propelled them to seventh in the constructors’ championship, tied with Haas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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