Gary Anderson: The true worth of Williams's weight-saving upgrade

Williams Racing's recent upgrade for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix led to a notable improvement in performance, with Carlos Sainz qualifying ninth despite a grid penalty. This upgrade marked the end of a points drought for the team, which had lasted nearly three months, and was attributed to a significant weight reduction of 20 kilograms. The team's performance in Baku showed a 0.759% increase in lap time compared to their season average, indicating progress.

Despite the positive results, questions remain about the true impact of the upgrade, as Williams had previously struggled with weight issues at the start of the season. The race itself was challenging, with Alex Albon crashing out and Sainz needing to recover from a low starting position. The team’s sixth-fastest overall ranking in Baku is an improvement, but further assessment across different circuits will be necessary to determine if they can consistently compete for points.