Williams Racing’s decline in Formula 1 standings over the past two decades is now being attributed to a complex, outdated, and disorganized Microsoft Excel spreadsheet holding back car development. Team principal James Vowles revealed that the team’s internal processes were a disaster, resulting in inefficiencies, delays, and ballooning costs. The 20,000-part spreadsheet lacked important logistical information, causing production staff to waste time searching for parts. This system was deemed amateurish and unsuitable for F1’s high stakes. Williams is now undergoing a technology overhaul to rectify these issues and return to competitiveness. The team aims to improve, even if it means keeping a few Excel spreadsheets in the mix.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-a-microsoft-excel-spreadsheet-from-hell-slowed-williams-f1-cars-for-years