Alex and Carlos ready for red-hot test at Red Bull Ring

Carlos returns home for the first of two visits in 2026, while Alex prepares to break Williams Grand Prix start record

Published

25 JUN 2026

Est. reading time

2 min

The European leg of the 2026 Formula 1 season continues in Austria as Atlassian Williams F1 Team heads to the Red Bull Ring for Round 8 of the championship.

With much of Europe in the grip of a summer heatwave, high temperatures are set to add another layer of complexity to a circuit where margins are always razor-thin and tyre management could prove crucial.

Carlos Sainz is looking forward to getting back on track after a difficult weekend in Barcelona and is eager to see how the FW48 performs at altitude.

“I’m looking forward to being back in Austria and ready to get back into the rhythm after a tough race in Barcelona. Austria is an exciting track to drive and it will be our first time racing these cars at a higher altitude, so it will be interesting to see how the cars run in thinner air. The weather is forecast to be hot which could make tyre management a challenge, so we’ll be working hard to understand where we are and hopefully come away with a strong result.”

Alex Albon is equally focused on delivering a clean weekend and maximising the opportunities the Red Bull Ring can offer.

“Austria is always a place I enjoy coming to and it is one of the most scenic circuits on the calendar. Red Bull Ring is short on lap time, but it's one of those tracks where every corner matters and getting the details right can make a big difference. The lap is fast, there are some good overtaking opportunities, and the margins are usually incredibly tight throughout the field. It is also looking to be quite hot so getting our tyres in the right window will be key. Barcelona wasn't the easiest weekend to manage, but hopefully we can put together a clean weekend and come away with some strong points for the team.”