Report: Weekend underway in Austin
FP1 was dominated by an aero testing programme, before a full run plan in FP2
Published
23 OCT 2026
Est. reading time
2 min
Round 18 of the 2026 Formula 1 season is underway in Austin, and for Atlassian Williams F1 Team, the day began with one eye on the future.
During FP1, both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon carried out an aero testing programme to assist with the development of both this year’s car and the FW50 for next season.
Our pair recorded 19 laps each in a session that mostly consisted of an out lap, then opening a push lap before aborting at the penultimate corner and pulling into the pits, all whilst avoiding the kerbs on the hard compound.
Once that programme was complete, they were able to bolt on a set of mediums whilst everyone else was on softs. Carlos ended the opening hour in P19, with Alex having his only representative time deleted, classifying him in P22.
FP2 was more routine, with 27 laps for Alex and 28 for Carlos, albeit the track-limit deletions continued with 20 of the 22 drivers having at least one time removed.
Alex saw his qualifying simulations removed, and his P22 FP2 classification came from his best lap whilst in long-run trim.
Carlos also had his best push lap time deleted, so an earlier run on the medium tyre saw him classified in P19.
It was a tough second hour for the team, with plenty of work already underway to make a step forward as we head into the rest of the weekend at the Circuit of the Americas.
Full reaction to follow.
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