Alex Albon, Williams Formula 1 team, showed his concerns over the improved performance of AlphaTauri. He believes the improved form is “worrying” as the battle for constructors’ standing heats up.
Albon performance through the season has helped the Williams to secure seventh place on the constructors’ standing with 21 points. Its competitors Haas, Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri have 12, 10 and 5 points respectively.
Williams have completed its up-gradation and shifted focus to 2024 car. However, its rival teams have continued the support for the current season. AlphaTauri introduced latest package in singapore while Haas scheduled a major revamp in Austin GP.
The AlphaTauri’s recent update provided the team with an instant relief at Marina Bay street track. Yuki Tsunoda topped Q1 before retiring while his team mate Liam Lawson finished the race on ninth place.
AlphaTauri missed the spot among top ten Japan, but Albon clearly see them as threat.
“I think they boxed themselves, I was really surprised by their tyre choice,” he said of AlphaTauri’s race.
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“They gave themselves only one medium, one hard, and I think Yuki didn’t even have a new soft. So they were in a tricky spot the whole race, and probably gave up a bit too much for Saturday, instead of Sunday.
“But the thing is, we rest assured this weekend, but they were quick in Singapore. And they’re going to be quick again in every circuit. I think their step has been quite significant, and a little bit worrying.”
Dave Robson, Williams F1 director of performance, shared the same concern of AlphaTauri taking the place in top ten.
“I think Vegas will be interesting, because it’s new and it’s Vegas,” he said when asked about the FW45’s potential for the rest of the year.
“I think that might suit the car reasonably well. But that said, it is such a big unknown. And what will the tarmac surface be like? I’m quite looking forward to going back to Qatar actually, to see how we get on there.
“But I think they’re all going to be reasonably difficult now with the AlphaTauri the way it is. It’s going to be tough to score too many more points.”
Tsunoda admitted that its team failed at strategy front in Japan.
He addressed the concerns of underperformance with the revised car. He said: “I would say we are making most of it. I mean, at least my side.
“Obviously we didn’t expect this much degradation in the race, but other teams had hard tyres, we did not. So some things to look out for the future.”
