There has been so much hype going into the 2025 Formula 1 season about all the rookies joining the grid and driver moves that have happened up and down the paddock that several established stars have gone under the radar.
Williams driver Alex Albon very much falls into that category after he was joined by Carlos Sainz over the winter.
Sainz’s impact at Williams has already been hailed by team principal James Vowles but his debut didn’t go to plan.
The four-time race winner was outqualified by Albon and his first Grand Prix start came to an end before completing the first lap.
Sainz was praised for helping with Albon’s strategy once he had retired, but the Thai driver deserves all the credit for coming home in P5.
Albon beat both Ferrari drivers in qualifying and was briefly fourth in the standings before Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s five-second penalty was overturned after a protest by Mercedes.
After several seasons of running near the back of the grid with Williams, the team look like they’re in a much stronger position in 2025.
Not only that, but the arrival of Sainz has inspired a very positive change in Albon’s approach this year.
READ MORE: Williams driver Alex Albon’s life outside F1 with net worth, girlfriend to parents
Williams staff have noticed new ‘steeliness’ in Alex Albon this season
Journalist and broadcaster Tom Clarkson was speaking on the F1 Nation podcast about Albon’s Australian Grand Prix performance.
After his impressive first race of 2025, Clarkson said: “People in the team have been telling me that there’s a steeliness to him this year that hasn’t been there before.
“It’s as if he knows this is the year to actually make the statement because what has he done?
“He’s beaten Logan Sargeant. He’s been beaten all these rookies.
“But this is the first, as you guys say, proper teammate he’s had. And he can make a real statement to the rest of the Formula 1 paddock.”
READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties
Williams may have to change their mind about concentrating on their 2026 F1 car
Vowles hasn’t hesitated to admit that the 2026 season and the new regulations being introduced are Williams’ priority right now.
Williams will be looking at the success McLaren have enjoyed as a customer team over the past two seasons and want to replicate it as best they can.
Mercedes are said to have the strongest engine for 2026 which puts Williams, McLaren and new customer team Alpine in a very good position.
But Vowles’ willingness to sacrifice 2025 if he sees a better opportunity to work on next year’s car may have to be reconsidered.
In Albon and Sainz they have an incredibly strong driver line-up and the car might be at the front of the midfield based on their pace in Australia.
That could be worth millions of pounds in prize money if they leapfrog the likes of Aston Martin and Alpine which could then be invested in next year’s car.
Leave feedback about this