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Williams to “compromise” next season ahead of 2026 rules overhaul

Published

7 months ago

October 10, 2024

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Williams team principal James Vowles has warned that the 2025 Formula 1 season will prove tricky for the British outfit as it focuses on the new regulations for the following year.

F1 cars will be overhauled from 2026 onwards, with smaller dimensions, reduced weight, simplified aerodynamics and toned-down downforce and drag.

Having failed to finish a race in the top five since 2017 – other than the controversial 2021 Belgian Grand Prix – as it struggled financially under the Williams family, the Grove-based team has been getting the budget it needs from new owners Dorilton Capital and catching up with rival squads in terms of both performance and infrastructure.

2026 will therefore be a major opportunity for Williams to leap up the pecking order with drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, and the team is ready to sacrifice the upcoming campaign to do so.

“It’s the message that Alex and Carlos both know: 2025 will be a struggle, I think,” Vowles told Autosport.

“It’s not that you’re going to see us moving forward, we’re going to move back a little bit.

“And if we are, I’m okay with that, because it simply says that I’m investing at the right rate for ‘26 compared to those around me. That’s what we should be expecting from it: we are going to compromise ’25. That doesn’t mean we’ll be tenth, but it’s going to be a hard year.”

Alex Albon, Williams FW46

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Following a 2023 season in which Williams narrowly beat AlphaTauri [now RB] for seventh position – with 28 points to 25 in the constructors’ championship – the team struggled early this year with just four points before the summer break.

However, its campaign really took off in Monza and Baku – with Albon and team-mate Franco Colapinto both finishing in the top eight in Azerbaijan – which is down to the ponderous FW46 finally losing crucial weight.

“I think we were fortunate to finish seventh last year,” Vowles added. “RB was bloody quick at the end of the year, and it was really just a matter of one strategic call, almost, that defined who finished ahead in the championship. We still finished seventh.

“This year’s car was performing. I think I was quite open in how overweight we were. Just take that time off and you’ll see that we shouldn’t be where we are in the championship. Now that we’ve had the performance, taking the weight off the car, we’re back to where I would have expected us to be – which is therefore not a step backwards.”

Vowles now advocates for a trial-and-error approach in the next 12 months as he considers this to be the best way to learn amidst the 2026 technical revolution.

“We are trying to do leaps – not steps forward, not inching forward, not minimal gains, or marginal gains even, but leaps in the technology and what we’re doing,” the Briton explained. “And in doing so, we’re going to trip ourselves up. And I’m comfortable with that, because we can’t unlearn what we’ve learned.

“I give you almost a guarantee: unfortunately, we’re going to trip ourselves again. I don’t think it’d be in ‘25, for what it’s worth. I think we’ve got enough of a good pathway to lead us there. I think in ’26, what we’re asking of the organisation is more than we can deliver. So we’ve got to make it fit or perhaps trip up a little bit along the way.”

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EPL: Liverpool’s Van Dijk predicts Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Published

22 hours ago

April 23, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has predicted that Arsenal will defeat Crystal Palace when both sides meet in the Premier League on Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium.

The Netherlands defender also stated that Liverpool must secure victory against Tottenham Hotspur to seal the Premier League title this season.

Speaking to The Times, Van Dijk said winning the Premier League title this week without kicking a ball would be a pleasant outcome.

However, the 33-year-old expects Mikel Arteta’s side to triumph in their home fixture against Crystal Palace.

“I expect Arsenal to win at home but, yeah, if it doesn’t happen, then I think it would be nice to be together,” Van Dijk said.

“So, however that may look, we will discuss in the next couple of days. But if Arsenal just win that game, as they probably expect they will do against a very good Crystal Palace, then we have to do our job at the weekend.”

Liverpool will be crowned champions on Wednesday night if Arsenal lose to Crystal Palace.

Arne Slot’s men are currently 13 points ahead of Arsenal and can secure the title on Sunday by defeating Tottenham, should the Gunners win during the week.

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Olmo fires Liga leaders Barcelona past Mallorca

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Dani Olmo scored the only goal in Barcelona's clash against Mallorca. AFP

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Barcelona inched closer to the La Liga title with a 1-0 win over Mallorca on Tuesday which took them seven points clear of Real Madrid.

Spain international Dani Olmo slotted home to help Barca turn up the heat on second-placed champions Madrid, who visit Getafe on Wednesday. Hansi Flick’s side, aiming for a potential quadruple, outplayed the visitors but could not extend their lead at the Olympic stadium as goalkeeper Leo Roman made save after save.

With Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against rivals Real Madrid in mind, Flick rested several of his usual starters. The coach handed former teenage prodigy Ansu Fati his first start since October and deployed Hector Fort on the left of the defence, with Ferran Torres up front in place of injured top scorer Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona created several chances in the first half and could hardly believe the score was goalless at the break. Gavi’s deflected shot hit the post, while Torres fired over after Olmo played him in. Fati also fired narrowly off target as the hosts turned the screw, and Roman saved from teenage star Lamine Yamal, before Fort’s shot was blocked as Mallorca rode their luck.

Now 22 and struggling for minutes at Barca, Fati drilled wide of the near post when he might have tested the increasingly busy Roman, before Mateu Morey blasted home at the other end but was offside. Barcelona left the pitch frustrated but swiftly took the lead at the start of the second half, with Olmo firing home after a long string of passes.

Fati came close to a second, but Roman palmed his drive to safety. Flick sent on Raphinha and Fermin Lopez to try and finish the job. Yamal should have added Barcelona’s second when the excellent Pedri sent him through, but Roman made yet another save. The goalkeeper showed good reflexes to thwart Eric Garcia and then clawed out Lopez’s deflected shot when it looked like it was dipping over his head for his 10th save of the night.

It was Roman’s first appearance in the league in 2025 for Mallorca, and although he and his side left without a point to show for it, another save to deny Lopez towards the end underlined his outstanding display. Mallorca appealed for a penalty in stoppage time when Garcia held Abdon Prats in the box, but their appeals were waved away. Barcelona have five games remaining in La Liga, including a mouthwatering Clasico showdown against Real Madrid on May 11.

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EPL: He’s two steps ahead – Owen Hargreaves names midfielder Arsenal should replace Partey with

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Owen Hargreaves

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Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich star, Owen Hargreaves has urged Arsenal to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as Thomas Partey’s replacement this summer transfer window.

Partey’s current contract with Arsenal will expire at the end of the season.

The Ghana international has been linked with summer moves to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.

However, Hargreaves wants the Gunners to go for Wharton if the Premier League North London club decide to part ways with Partey at the end of the season.

“Someone I like is Adam Wharton,” Hargreaves said on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel when speaking about Partey’s possible replacement at Emirates Stadium. “He gets in your team [Arsenal].

“If Mikel Arteta saw him, he’d go, “that’s my guy”. Say if Thomas Partey leaves, Wharton is a player.”

He added, “The thing with Adam that’s crazy is his vision. He’s two steps ahead. His reading of the game when you watch him… his vision and his touch is almost as good as anyone.

“I would like him at Manchester United but I think that system is very niche and you need legs to play in that position under Ruben Amorim.”