Williams tweak design philosophy of new car

Williams must "make good steps" in the coming Formula 1 season after tweaking the design philosophy of their car, according to driver Alex Albon.

The Thai-Briton headed the team's improved 2023, where they came seventh in the constructors' championship.

"We're hoping to build on our progress," said Albon, 27. "We've asked a lot of the team and we've slightly changed the philosophy of the car."

The FW46 car will be unveiled at testing in Bahrain on 21 February.

The team launched their new livery on last year's car in New York on Monday, with team principal James Vowles adding: "Everyone at Grove HQ is pushing as one to create new history for this iconic team."

The once-dominant Williams showed signs of recovery in 2023 from a fallow period, with season's best seventh-place finishes for Albon at the Canadian and Italian Grands Prix.

Albon added: "We've been working hard to make some good steps forward in performance.

"I'm interested to see if we can improve some of the characteristics it has historically had. It will require an adjustment in driving style but I'm confident it will be a change for the better."

F1 season-opening's Bahrain Grand Prix takes place on 2 March.

Vowles, formerly chief strategist during Mercedes' most successful period between 2014 and 2020, is also keen the Mercedes-powered team builds upon the results they have had.

"Since joining Williams Racing a year ago, I've seen this team pull together to overcome a number of challenges, which meant a great deal for everyone involved. We've also shown the world that we're building the foundations for moving forward," he said.

Albon finished 13th in the drivers' championship last year with 27 points following a season in which he qualified fourth on the grid at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Albon out-qualified team-mate Logan Sargeant in all 22 races during the American's first year in the sport. Sargeant struggled to keep pace with Albon, who enters his fifth season on the grid, having spent several years with Toro Rosso and Red Bull.

Williams are in their fifth season of ownership under US investment company Dorilton Capital following the sale of the team by the family of founder Sir Frank Williams.

Williams launched the team in 1975 and guided it through several periods of success through the 1980s and 1990s, which included seven drivers' championships, including for Britons Nigel Mansell in 1992 and Damon Hill in 1996.

Frank Williams died in 2021 after spending much of his life in a wheelchair as a tetraplegic, following a car accident in 1986.

Swiss team Sauber will launch their new challenger for 2024 on Monday evening - the C44.

Sauber, who have retained drivers Valtteri Bottas of Finland and China's Zhou Guanyu, had been branded for the past five seasons as Alfa Romeo, but will revert to their former name.

They will continue to run a Ferrari engine as a legacy from the involvement of the Italian Agnelli family.

In 2026, however, when a number of new changes relating to engines are introduced, Audi will take up their partnership with Sauber.

Sauber have been competing in F1 since 1993, from their Hinwil base in Switzerland, following a number of collaborations over the years, including a successful period with BMW in which the team won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix with Robert Kubica.