Williams goes into the 2025 Formula 1 season looking to improve on their fortunes, following a disappointing campaign last year.
Although the team had more Q3 appearances than 2023 with Alex Albon appearing eight times, they failed to convert those top ten starting places into more points finishes.
Williams slipped down two places to P9 in the Constructors’ Championship as a result, costing them a lot of prize money at the end of the year. This also coincided with a run of big crashes for the team, with Williams totting up a seven-figure crash damage bill at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Signing ex-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will give them an important advantage over their nearest rivals, given he is a proven race winner and can help them improve their fortunes.
James Vowles spent months convincing Sainz to join Williams, with the hope that his hard work will pay off with a higher finishing position at the end of 2025. Jenson Button believes everyone in F1 wants to see Williams succeed, and has explained why when speaking to the Fast and Curious podcast.
Jenson Button thinks F1 fans want to see Williams succeed because of heritage
Williams is one of F1’s most successful privateer teams, having been formed by Frank Williams and Patrick Head in 1977, and although it has moved away from being a family-run business it still has a lot of heritage in F1.
When Dorlton Captial took over the team in 2021, they vowed to keep the Williams name, knowing how much of an affinity fans have for them. Button thinks this is one of the main reasons why everyone in F1 wants to see them back fighting at the front, after several years on the decline.
“From a fans point of view, it’s the team everyone wants to see succeed. It’s because, even though it’s not a family run business any more, it still feels that way and there is a lot of love for this team,” said Button.
“One, because of the history they’ve had, but also because of the way they go racing. It’s such a passionate team and the people you see in the garage have worked around the clock for days to get the car built, and they’re passionate about their job they want to beat those guys at the top of the grid.”
Williams shakedown 2025 challenger at Silverstone
Williams became the second team to shakedown their 2025 challenger after taking to the track at Silverstone last week.
The FW47 broke cover in a camo livery with Sainz at the wheel, as the team is forced to wait until the F1 75 event at London’s O2 Arena to reveal their full 2025 livery.
READ MORE: Williams driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Sainz has already made one adjustment to Williams’ steering wheel to improve his race starts, knowing this will be one area that he will need to excel to ensure they have high finishing positions.
F1 technical expert Gary Anderson was surprised by the lack of changes Williams made to their car, given there is not much a difference between it an the FW46.
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