Carlos Sainz’s debut for Williams at the Australian Grand Prix did not go to plan as he crashed out of the race on lap one.
The Grove-based outfit set themselves up for a strong haul of points to kick off 2025 in qualifying. Both Williams cars made Q3 in Melbourne for the first time since 2005 – Alex Albon in sixth and Sainz 10th.
However, the tricky wet weather conditions saw the latter retire from the race before the first lap. Sainz crashed under the safety car – caused by Jack Doohan after he impacted the wall before turn six – spinning at the final corner.
It was a disappointing start to life at Williams for the 30-year-old on the track. But off of it, he played a key role for his teammate.
Albon managed to secure fifth for the team in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix. The Thai driver was initially bumped up to P4 after the race as Kimi Antonelli was handed a five-second penalty for an unsafe release, but Mercedes got the decision overturned.
Carlos Sainz gave ‘incredibly useful’ insight for Alex Albon’s strategy at the Australian Grand Prix
It was perhaps a fortuitous result for Albon given the carnage that ensued during the race. Several safety car periods and unpredictable weather led to indecisive calls in terms of strategy and pit stops.
After the track dried out, class three rain was forecast to hit for a short period. This left teams scrambling to make a decision on staying out on dry tyres or switching to the intermediate compound.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Williams boss James Vowles shared that Sainz gave ‘incredibly useful’ insight for Albon’s strategy. He turned out to be ‘spot on’ as the Thai driver made the switch to inters and held out to take fourth.
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“I’d say, no result is the result of one person, individually anyway. It’s a team coming together,” said Vowles.
“The pit stops were absolutely on point, the strategy, well done to them today. It’s one point to note on the strategy today, there was an additional strategist today which was Carlos.
“Carlos, his insight was incredibly useful on that transition to the inter. You saw a number of teams not sure: ‘Do we try and hang it out? Could you hang it out?’
“Carlos was adamant: ‘You won’t survive on that at the last few corners’. And he was spot on, helped us drive us towards that.”
Alex Albon’s result at the Australian Grand Prix proves Williams have taken a step forward
Many people felt Williams have made significant progress over the winter with their package, despite the team saying they are fully focused on 2026 and the new regulations.
Albon’s fourth place in Melbourne proves the Grove-based team are capable of strong results in 2025 – his 12 points is only five less than Williams managed all season in 2024.
Vowles wants Williams to score points regularly this season and the team have shown they can do just that. After years of languishing at the back of the field, the Grove-based outfit have serious potential to get back to the top of F1 in the future.
Marc Priestley backs Williams to be the next McLaren and return to the front in the next three years. The latter have had a dramatic turnaround in the last 18 months and the former are building to do the same.
