Carlos Sainz just ended 20-year Williams wait on unbelievable debut at Australian Grand Prix

Williams are already reaping the rewards of their elite-level driver line-up at the Australian Grand Prix. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz both produced excellent performances in qualifying.

Albon was one of the stars of Saturday in sixth place. It was his best showing since he took P4 at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.

Sainz couldn’t quite match his teammate, lapping just over three-tenths slower, but he should still be delighted to reach Q3. Alpine doubted Williams’ pace after testing, suggesting that they were only at the top of the times because they’d emptied the fuel tanks to impress their sponsors.

After leaving Ferrari for last year’s ninth-place finishers, Sainz might have feared a dispiriting season. But he’s only two spots behind his replacement Lewis Hamilton on the grid.

More importantly, James Vowles has targeted consistent points and Williams look well-placed to achieve that. There could be huge points hauls on offer when the cars ahead run into trouble.

Williams secure best Australian Grand Prix qualifying result for 20 years after signing Carlos Sainz

In recent years, Williams have paired Albon with either inexperienced or poorly-rated drivers. It was telling that neither Nicholas Latifi nor Logan Sargeant found a seat elsewhere after the Grove outfit let them to go.

Franco Colapinto impressed at times last season, but he was brand-new to F1 and that perhaps showed with a series of late crashes. Indeed, the ever-increasing list of accidents curbed the team’s development.

But now they have Albon, a driver with over 100 race starts and two podium-finishes, alongside a veritable A-lister in Sainz, who’s won four Grands Prix.

And they made an instant statement by getting both drivers into the top 10 in qualifying for the first time since 2005, as pointed out by Sky Sports commentator David Croft. Mark Webber was third that year, with Nick Heidfeld eighth.

David Croft’s F1 Fantasy pick pay off at Australian Grand Prix

Williams went on to finish fifth in the 2005 world championship – a result they’ve only bettered three times since. P5 has to be the target for Vowles’ squad this year too.

Bernie Ecclestone was surprised by Carlos Sainz’s pace in testing, and he’s carried it into the competitive action. Albon has thus far risen to the challenge in commendable fashion.

Speaking to Carlos Miquel after the session, Sainz said: Three months ago I wouldn’t have believed I’d seen a Williams so high up.”

Williams had hinted at their potential for a qualifying scalp in practice. Sainz was second-quickest in FP1 and sixth in FP3, just ahead of his teammate.

David Croft scrambled to put Sainz in his fantasy team after what he saw in those sessions. And he’s been rewarded with points already.