Williams will have one of the strongest driver lineups in the midfield this season, as they field Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.
Sainz ran with Williams for the first time in Abu Dhabi during the post-season test, setting the second-fastest time in the FW46, having now left Ferrari at the end of 2024.
Engineers at Williams team have described Sainz’s arrival as ‘a blessing’ and he should help them in their development, which is an area they often fell short of when going up against their rival teams.
Williams is hopeful that it can improve on ninth in the Constructors’ Championship, having fallen two places from where it was a year prior following stunning drives by Albon throughout the 2023 season.
It is expected that the partnership between the pair will bring in results, however, Martin Brundle has cautioned that things might become ‘uncomfortable’ between the pair when speaking on the social media website X (formerly Twitter).
Martin Brundle thinks things could get ‘uncomfortable’ between Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
Sainz was a competitive teammate when up against Charles Leclerc and is set to experience the same against Albon, who has had it easy with three different teammates in the last three years.
Williams was considered to be a big winner in the driver market when they signed Sainz, given the fact that he was in high demand when Ferrari cut ties with him at the start of last season.
Albon welcomed Sainz to Williams on social media, as the Spaniard now prepares for one of his biggest tests since leaving Red Bull’s stable of drivers in 2017. Brundle expects things to get competitive between the pair.
“Two nicer young men you couldn’t wish to meet. What you see is definitely what you get. But they are also ferociously competitive, which is very healthy if a little uncomfortable from time to time for a team,” said Brundle.
Williams mechanics already impressed by Carlos Sainz
Both Sainz and Albon already have some mutual respect, after Sainz publicly apologised to Albon when they collided at the 2023 Canadian GP.
Early signs all point towards things running smoothly between Sainz and his engineers at Williams, as they gear up for what could be their most competitive season yet.
Sainz reportedly offered impressively detailed feedback to his team, which them happy that more performance could be unlocked with greater fine-tuning.
Next years Williams is set to be an evolution of their 2024 car, so much of what Sainz has already experienced will be from the same foundation.
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