The 2026 F1 Japanese GP turned into an impromptu testing session for Williams driver Alex Albon, after the 30-year-old, plagued by car issues, had no chance to score points.
Williams started the 2026 F1 season on the back foot. Missing the Barcelona shakedown, bringing a car that is reportedly way above the weight limit, and aerodynamic limitations that have been plaguing the team since the previous regulation cycle have contributed to the team’s current challenges. As the team’s struggles with pace continued at the 2026 F1 Japanese GP, Williams opted to run tests with Alex Albon when it became clear the Thai driver, who finished in P20, had no chance of scoring points.
Front end of the FW48 main focus in the race turned testing session
In the print media pen following the 2026 F1 Japanese GP, the Williams driver noted that testing was focused on the front end of the FW48, with Albon collecting data that will be analyzed during the extended break ahead of the Miami GP.
“It turned into a bit of a test session. I think we wanted to test a few things with the front wing. So, we wanted to map the front of the car in this 5-week break so we could understand it a bit better and go through some of the data.
“So, we proceeded to do so. I think the points were not on the calendar.”
Lack of pace prompted the decision to turn the Japanese GP into a testing session for Albon
Already having mapped out a “test span” for the 2026 F1 Japanese GP the previous day, Albon made small adjustments during the race, which he feels were “working well” during certain stages at Suzuka. However, undisclosed issues saw Albon drop back, prompting Williams to pit the Thai driver four times and turning the closing stages of the Japanese GP into an impromptu testing session.
“We actually had quite a nice test plan in place. That meeting was basically we do ten laps like this, five laps like this, five laps like this, five laps like this, ten laps like this.
“And we still had the same issues. I think in some parts of the races it was working well, and I could stay in the pack, and then if you look at my race plot and you see me drop back, that’s where I had the issues.
“At that point, we thought, honestly, we’re not going to fix it here, so we might as well turn it into a test session.”
