Williams in the News: The cost cap, a convergence of worlds and a historic test
All the latest from the world of Atlassian Williams F1 Team, through the motorsport media lens
Published
15 OCT 2026
Est. reading time
5 min
From the paddocks of Sepang and Singapore, to a quiet hotel room in Asia and the Javits Center in New York, Atlassian Williams F1 Team made headlines across a remarkably wide range of outlets this week. Here's the round-up.
Vowles on the cost cap
Speaking at a press conference in Sepang, James Vowles made a direct and detailed case for reform of Formula 1's financial regulations, arguing that the cost cap – far from levelling the playing field – has entrenched the advantage of the sport's top four teams.
Motorsport.com shared Vowles’ detailed breakdown of why he feels the cap has locked in the competitive order.
“When you make a cost cap, I'm not spending money on the car, I'm spending tens of millions just on basic systems just so you know where a part is in the factory,” he shared. “It's going on systems that I need to just do the basics, so we're caught in a cost cap trap.”
The numbers, JV argued, back it up: the top four teams – Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari – have scored 83% of available points over the past five years under the cost cap regulations, a share that has actually grown rather than shrunk.
His solution isn't to scrap the cap, which he credits with bringing financial stability to the sport, but to introduce a sliding-scale catch-up mechanism that gives teams outside the top four greater room to invest. That proposal is set to be discussed at the next F1 Commission meeting, and Vowles has said he expects a vote to be taken there, with both F1 and the FIA aligned that it is “the direction of travel.”
Speed meets supernatural: Tzuyu, Dandadan and Williams in Singapore
CNA Lifestyle were among the outlets covering one of the most eye-catching stories of the Singapore Grand Prix week: the arrival of TWICE's Tzuyu in the paddock as part of the ongoing Williams x Dandadan collaboration, and the announcement that she will perform the official theme song for the project — an original track due for release in early 2027, timed to the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.
Tzuyu appeared at the Atlassian Williams F1 Team Fan Zone at Marina Square and at a press conference on the Friday of race week, where she spoke about what drew her to the collaboration.
“I always love trying different things, and I want to challenge myself and continue to grow,” she said. The crossover, bringing together F1, the hit anime series Dandadan and K-pop under the “Speed Meets Supernatural” banner of Williams' Sector Zero platform, has been building since the Japanese Grand Prix in April, with a liveried Dandadan car unveiled at Anime Expo in Los Angeles in July.
Alex slows down for Vogue Philippines
Vogue Philippines took it easy with Alex this week, exploring the rituals and routines that keep him grounded across one of the most relentless schedules in sport.
“I feel like an introvert once I walk into the bedroom,” Alex told the magazine. “I switch off and it's my own little sanctuary.” That sanctuary is constructed carefully. “I've learned to do as little work as I can in the bedroom because I think it upsets the energy and you don't want to create too much cortisol before you go to bed.”
The piece also touches on the food adventures he and fiancée Lily Muni He have been sharing through their Al-bon Appétit series, and the particular pull of Asian races, where fan demand is higher and his schedule noticeably fuller.
“I feel a lot of support and my weekends are a little bit busier,” he said. There's also a charming aside about honeymoon planning: the couple are struggling to find places they haven't already been. The Philippines came close to making the list. “We were interested in staying a few days there,” he revealed.
Doomsday at New York Comic Con
Rotten Tomatoes were among those covering New York Comic Con's 20th anniversary weekend, and Williams earned a mention in the Marvel section of their round-up.
Alongside a 90-minute panel from Marvel Studios, the Avengers: Doomsday countdown continued with a special Doomsday-themed F1 car showcased at the convention in collaboration with the Atlassian Williams F1 Team.
Also on display were two Williams x Marvel crossover race suits, and these are now up for grabs for WClub members. Click here to secure your entry.
Jamie makes history at Portimão
One of the most significant Williams stories of recent weeks was Jamie Chadwick's TPC test at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve — the first time she had driven modern F1 machinery.
SB Nation were among the outlets to cover the story in depth, speaking to Jamie about the test and what it means for the path ahead for women in the sport.
She completed 32 laps of Portimão in the FW47, describing it as “the best day of my life so far” and “a dream I've had since I was a little girl.” The connection to Wolff was not lost on her. “I remember being young and watching Susie Wolff step into a Williams F1 car and how much that inspired my own journey,” she said.
JV was equally direct about what the test represented. “Jamie Chadwick is an inspiration for millions of women and girls who has broken records at every level, and she has thoroughly earned this F1 test opportunity. This clearly shows there is a path for women to compete at the top level.”
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