Williams trades US GP practice time for 2027 car development

Williams used Friday practice at the US Grand Prix in Austin to help develop its 2027 car rather than focus only on this weekend’s performance.

The team ran aerodynamic tests during the first session, then shifted to a more typical plan in the second session, with extra work on fuel-heavy runs.

Carlos Sainz was 20th in FP2 and Alex Albon was 22nd, with Sainz also slower than Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas.

Albon’s unusually large gap was partly caused by a lap time being deleted for a track-limits violation.

Williams chose to sacrifice some short-term performance for data because the Circuit of the Americas offers useful conditions for aerodynamic testing.

The track’s fast corners, bumps and heavy braking expose weaknesses in the 2026 car, including a lack of downforce that leaves the drivers short of confidence.

Williams expects a difficult weekend and says it will keep learning for next year.