Williams Racing wouldn’t have expected to see Alex Albon challenging for a podium finish this early in the season but the Australian Grand Prix threw up plenty of surprises to kick off the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Last season didn’t go to plan for Williams but an encouraging start to pre-season alongside the signing of Carlos Sainz to race with Alex Albon has created a positive atmosphere within the team.
Albon entered the season under pressure given his previous teammates haven’t been of the same calibre as Sainz and many questioned whether the Spaniard might have the advantage over his new partner-in-crime.
However, Albon came out on top in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix before expertly negotiating Sunday’s race.
The Thai driver finished P5 after Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s penalty was reversed, but Albon was just a few seconds off George Russell and finishing on the podium.
He spoke to Sky Sports F1 (16/3 6:42 am) after the race and reflected on a comment he made after qualifying about the tricky conditions expected in Melbourne.
Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan were just two of the rookies that fell victim to the damp track after Albon wished F1’s rookies good luck going into one of the most difficult circuits to drive in the rain.
Alex Albon’s F1 rookies prediction comes true at the Australian Grand Prix
Albon was asked just how complicated the race was and said: “Personally, in those conditions, it’s just about knowing your limits.
“It’s easy to switch off your brain and just drive flat out and you need a bit of a barrier to the limit because it was so gusty out there today.
“A bit more rain, drying out, tyres overheating, tyres getting too cold, safety car restarts, all that kind of thing.
“You can’t drive it at 99%, not even 99%, you have to know when are the moments you can risk it.
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“And, honestly, that’s why I said it before the race started, the rookies are going… it’s so tricky!
“I don’t think people understand how hard Pirelli tyres are to work in the wet and survive.
“If you survive, you’ve got a chance!”
Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan among the F1 rookies who didn’t finish the Australian Grand Prix
Only 14 drivers finished Sunday’s race in stark contrast to last season’s opener when all 20 racers took the chequered flag.
Racing Bulls star Isack Hadjar didn’t even reach the start line, crashing on the formation lap, while Doohan’s race was over just a handful of corners into the race.
Lawson and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto both spun on the same lap, bringing out the final safety car of the race and ending a torrid weekend for the Red Bull driver.
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The New Zealander failed to progress through Q1 and unlike Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, struggled to make any progress through the pack.
Lawson was making his Albert Park debut and the conditions even caught out seasoned veterans Sainz and Fernando Alonso.
But Albon’s warning to the rookies was very accurate and he demonstrated perfectly how to handle his car in such tough conditions.
