Williams in the News: Inside Grove, no magic formula, 1996 recollections

All the latest from the world of Atlassian Williams F1 Team, through the motorsport media lens

Published

02 APR 2026

Est. reading time

4 min

The Formula 1 season will break until May following the Japanese Grand Prix – but there is no shortage of talking points from the paddock involving the Atlassian Williams F1 Team.

In the news this week, there has been coverage of race weekend from mission control at Grove, Carlos Sainz’s reflections from Suzuka, Damon Hill’s own view and historic reflections on our 1996 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship triumphs.

Here’s how we’ve been covered in the press this week…

Inside Mission Control

Williams' Oxfordshire home recently opened its doors to the media

Set in the unsuspecting surroundings of leafy Oxfordshire, Williams’ Grove HQ is the team’s spiritual and literal home – and there’s plenty going on back at base, even when Carlos and Alex are racing on the other side of the world.

Telegraph Sport were granted behind-the-scenes access ahead of race weekend in what was described as the ‘busiest time of the week’ with the team’s HQ already a hive of activity prior to 6am on Friday.

Senior Sports Correspondent Tom Cary got to speak to some of the key figures at Grove, including Richard Frith, Williams’ Head of Performance Systems, and Ben Hale-Heighway, DIL Testing Team Leader, to get a flavour of what goes into putting the FW48 on track throughout the season.

No Quick Fix

Speaking to RacingNews365 after Q2 in Japan, Carlos Sainz discussed the reasons for the perceived lack of speed in his car this season.

"It could be weight, it could be downforce," Sainz said. “I think it's a combination of the two, the reason why we struggle in the race. And we need to get rid of one and add the other one to the car.

"I think as a team, if we do that exercise during the year, we will finish the year a lot more competitive than where we are right now.

"We need to chip away at it. In F1, there's no magic, massive steps. And this weekend, we seem to have done a small one. And we need to keep doing them, and see where we get to."

Aerodynamic Changes Explained

Autosport have also visited our HQ at Grove recently, getting a thorough explanation of this season’s aerodynamic shifts thanks to Williams’ chief aerodynamicist Juan Molina.

The 2026 season has seen Formula 1 make a departure from ground-effect Venturi tunnels, shifting instead towards a shorter, narrower profile with flat floors making a return.

A detailed video looks at how teams are dealing with a significant decrease in downforce, the move from traditional DRS to straight mode active aerodynamics, and more.

Damon’s Japanese GP Verdict

Atlassian Williams F1 Team Official Ambassador Damon Hill on the podium at the Melbourne Fan Zone

Our 1996 Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill believes that the 2026 regulation changes have led to interesting, tactical and entertaining racing through the season’s first three events.

Speaking to F1 TV, reported by Motorsport.com, our recently appointed Official Ambassador said: "Listen, I think, I know that some of the drivers don't like having to slow down and charge their battery up, but I think the racing is very interesting.

“I think it's tactical. They're having to think, and we're getting entertained."

‘No Regrets’

The year 1996 is one that will live long in the memory of any Williams fan, clinching both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship with Damon Hill in 1st and team-mate Jacques Villeneuve in second.

The Canadian, a rookie in that unforgettable campaign 30 years ago and another Official Ambassador, insists he has ‘no regrets’ about finishing behind the Briton on 78 points to 97.

Speaking to the F1 Beyond the Grid podcast, Villeneuve admitted he thought winning the title was achievable ahead of the season finale in Japan. He said: "Oh, I thought it was possible. Anything can go wrong, as it happened to me. Losing the wheel could have happened to Damon.”

He added: "We had a good time that night. We had a good party, and I was very happy for him. It didn't feel like 'Oh, you know, I lost the Championship'. Of course, I was not happy to not have won, but also he was deserving it so much that I was cool with it."

Check out our Essentials

Represent Williams wherever you go with our casual collection…

Shop Now

Earn WClub points

Latest

ARTICLE

—

2 APR 2026

Williams in the News: Inside Grove, no magic formula, 1996 recollections

All the latest from the world of Atlassian Williams F1 Team, through the motorsport media lens

05:40

VIDEO