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Albon's Five Pitstops Highlight Williams' Weight Penalty Struggles

Autosport F1 News •
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Alex Albon made five pitstops in the final laps of the Japanese Grand Prix, a tactic driven by Williams' ongoing battle with excessive car weight. The Grove-based team's FW47 suffers from an estimated 20kg penalty, severely impacting aerodynamic performance and development. While waiting for a weight-reduction solution, Williams focused on gathering data through extreme set-up variations.

Albon's multiple stops, including four front-wing adjustments within five laps, were part of this experimental push to map aerodynamic behavior. Sensors measuring pressure across surfaces allowed engineers to analyze downforce values and airflow interactions. This intensive testing, occurring even when a points finish was impossible, provided crucial data for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, where Williams hopes to leverage insights from the first three races during their forced one-month break.