Alex Albon led Williams to a ninth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship after a fairly destructive 2024 Formula 1 season.
They dealt with more damage than any other team as their drivers continually put cars into the wall, and were even forced to borrow parts after Franco Colapinto crashed in Las Vegas.
A Dutch Grand Prix crash cost Logan Sargeant his seat after he failed to score any points and couldn’t find a way to keep his car on the straight and narrow.
Albon fared slightly better but was still a bit mistake-prone at times, including a mega shunt at the Australian Grand Prix which saw them run only one car in the race.
It meant that Sargeant was dropped for the rest of the weekend, and it didn’t do his confidence any favours as he continued to struggle thereafter.
Their eyes have long since been on Formula 1’s big technical regulation overhaul in 2026, but it doesn’t mean that these years aren’t important for learning and prize money – so they will expect more from themselves next season.
Williams F1 progress is taking ‘longer’ than Alex Albon hoped
Williams showed encouraging signs during the middle of the season, including back-to-back points finishes at the Italian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
As their focus shifted to 2025 and they stopped bringing developments, they fell down the pack and ended the year with one of the slowest cars.
Team boss James Vowles has been open about the cost of the shunts and has even admitted that it may cost them in 2025.
READ MORE: The F1 prediction Alex Albon wrote on Franco Colapinto’s helmet after his final race for Williams
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Albon admitted that the Grove-based outfit’s march through the field is taking a bit longer than expected.
“He’s [Vowles] very honest with me as well, very open with me, and we have this open dialogue,” he said.
“Maybe it is taking a bit longer than we wanted to, but I’m glad we have the aspirations to not just be fighting the forward end of the midfield. We want more than that, so we are continuously sacrificing just to get the upgrades.”
Why Williams could be far better in 2025 after Carlos Sainz signing
Carlos Sainz will bring value to Williams in 2025, as he arrives from Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton has his seat alongside Charles Leclerc but their loss is very much the gain of someone else.
It’s the first time in eight years that the team has a race-winner in their ranks, and the experience he brings after 206 races in the sport will be so valuable.
Feedback has a huge impact on car development – an area where Williams have tailed off in recent seasons.
READ MORE: Two-podium F1 driver at risk of losing his seat next year after Carlos Sainz joined Williams
He has raced for the two best teams in the sport over the last five years, including reigning Constructors’ Championship winners McLaren.
The knowledge of a top-level operation alone is worth whatever Sainz is being paid, before even getting to his on-track attributes and skills.
He will be consistent, keep the car out of the wall, and move them in a positive direction. Their heavy investment in the future makes this a fascinating story to watch and makes them a threat for 2026.
Leave feedback about this