Williams still ko: temperature management is becoming a … nightmare

Williams’ booty in Austria has been quite disappointing: a double retreat that definitely leaves a bitterness in the mouth. Therefore, especially because it follows two more ko in Spain and Canada. Consequently, If in Barcelona the accidents had weighed. Meanwhile, in Montréal to stop Grove’s team had been a question linked to temperatures, in particular at the Power Unit.

A problem that has also reappeared in Austria, albeit differently on the two cars. Therefore, In fact. For example, Carlos Sainz did not even manage to start the race, due to a brake problem that left him stopped on the grid. For example, Although he managed to reset the system, the brakes remained active, causing abnormal overheating.

Once you return to the pits. Similarly, the brakes were so incandescent that they are caught fire, and also with the intervention williams still ko: temperature management of the mechanics, equipped with the tools to cool the system, it took the time to bring the situation under control. Nevertheless, Already on Saturday. In addition, during the qualifications, Sainz had complained not only of a possible damage to the car fund, but also of problems for the braking system.

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Foto di: Peter Fox / Getty Images

williams still ko: temperature management

“We have to check if there is a correlation between Saturday’s and Sunday problem. However, The fact is that it is another failure, and we must understand exactly what happened. The car was braked posteriorly when I turned on the engine. I could not move,” Sainz explained after the race, which ended even before starting.

“I managed to reset it, I took a tour, but he stopped again. In the end, we had to withdraw. But yes, lately many things are happening to us. The truth is that this first half of the year has been rather difficult from this point of view: we continue to have problems. but sooner or later all this bad luck will end and things will begin to go in the right direction”.

The point raised by the Spaniard is absolutely valid. In the first races of the season. operational problems had mainly slowed williams still ko: temperature management down the team, such as the errors made to Miami – where Sainz were mounted wrong tires in the sprint, with consequences also on the Sunday race – or the bankruptcy strategy of Imola, always unfavorable.

In the last weekends. however, it is reliability that worries, especially as regards the operating temperatures, as demonstrated by Albon’s problems. Already two weeks ago in Montréal. the Anglo-Thai had been forced to retire because of the overheating of the Power Unit, which had reached temperatures well beyond the safety threshold.

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Foto di: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

The team had therefore decided to test that engine in the Red Bull Ring FP1 again and, given the positive outcome, to use it throughout the weekend. For safety, Albon had also completed some laps in traffic, to verify their behavior in critical conditions.

After the engine hood had “exploded” in Canada. James Vowles had explained that the failure had been caused by a change made precisely to that element some race earlier. However, with the update some structural points had been weakened, causing the rupture seen in Montréal.

“It seems similar to the problem of Canada. We will surely have to review everything. Three consecutive retreats … Really, williams still ko: temperature management I don’t know. It is the same car as the beginning of the year, and and I was much more reliable. I don’t know if they are the temperatures with which we are running to put us in difficulty. ” said Albon after the race.

Generally. all Mercedes motorized cars are quite efficient on the cooling level, with McLaren as a maximum example thanks to its particularly effective system. The Austrian race. however, is known to be very severe from this point of view, not only for the brakes but also for the power unit.

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Foto di: Steven tee / Lat Images via Getty Images

For this reason, many teams tend to open the outbursts on the engine hood more, in order to dispose of as many hot air as possible. Williams also followed this approach, installing showy gills on the hood, but it was not enough.

The problem of temperatures is now assuming increasing importance, not only for reliability but also for performance. In the last races. in fact, the rivals have grown, while the FW47 no longer enjoys the advantage shown at the beginning of the year, when it appeared immediately quick and effective.

The new single -seater also inherits the difficulties in keeping williams still ko: temperature management the tires from the past, especially the softest ones. The more the asphalt temperature increases. the more Williams tend to go in crisis, as has been seen not only in Canada, but also in other appointments. When the hardest mixes are used instead, the car manages to find greater adherence.

However. now that rival teams are introducing updates, while Grove’s team is already focused on 2026, certain problems – such as temperature management and wind sensitivity, never really resolved – begin to have an increasingly significant weight.