An ever-leading Albon and a still-adapting Sainz have brought Williams to a surprising fifth place in the championship, but they will have to fight until the very end to hold on to it.
After a challenging 2024, Williams pleasantly surprised from the pre-season tests, with Alex Albon confidently describing a car “completely different from last year.” The team, led by James Vowles, started with enthusiasm and tangible results, immediately showing a clear step forward compared to the previous season: in the first seven races, Albon finished in the top five three times, scoring more points after three races than the entire team did in all of 2024.
The arrival of Carlos Sainz, however, has required a longer adaptation process than expected, despite positive signs during the Bahrain tests. The Spaniard had to adjust to a car with characteristics completely different from the Ferrari and did not hide his frustration and difficulties. Despite this, the Grove team has confirmed itself as one of the season’s surprises so far, sitting firmly in fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship with 70 points—18 ahead of Aston Martin and 19 ahead of Sauber—in what promises to be a very exciting battle all the way to Abu Dhabi.
The car
The new car has shown strong potential, especially on street circuits or tracks with high aerodynamic loads, such as Australia, Miami, Imola, and Monaco, where Albon and Sainz scored valuable points. The major limitation, however, remains race management: the drivers have repeatedly highlighted the difficulty in maximizing performance on Sundays, due to both reliability issues and sudden drops in pace. Retirements in Spain, Austria, and Canada have served as a reminder that Williams is not yet a fully mature team capable of consistently fighting in the positions that matter, even though the improvements compared to 2024 are evident to everyone.
The drivers
Albon has been the real surprise of this season for Williams, remaining the team leader despite Sainz’s arrival. The Thai driver has been consistent, precise, and able to maximize results on several occasions, securing significant finishes such as three fifth places in Australia, Miami, and Imola, as well as sixth place in Spa.
Sainz, on the other hand, probably expected a different start to his career at Grove. Accidents, technical problems, and a more challenging adaptation than anticipated have often left him outside the points or even at the very back of the grid. On some weekends, he managed to contribute to the team’s haul, showing great synergy with Albon, as in Jeddah or Monaco, but many others were marked by frustration, especially when unlucky incidents, such as the failed start in Austria, ruined his chances. His performances have been below expectations, but with a bit more consistency and a touch of luck, he could help build one of the strongest driver lineups on the grid alongside Albon.
Best race
The Imola weekend was the most convincing: Albon even came close to the podium with a standout fifth place, while Sainz finished eighth, bringing both cars into the points and confirming the car’s potential. The former Ferrari driver’s frustration at not maximizing the result was proof that Williams can consistently aim for the upper part of the top 10.
Worst race
The disaster in Austria remains the lowest point of this first half of the season. Sainz was unable to start due to technical problems, which later also forced Albon to retire, leaving the team with a double zero at a critical stage in the fight for fifth place in the championship.
What to expect from the rest of the season
Williams has shown that it has the pace and structure to rise from the back of the grid to the leader of the midfield. The battle for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship will be tight and will require consistency, especially from Sainz, who must break the negative trend of recent races. Albon will continue to be the cornerstone of the project, while Vowles, backed by a multi-year contract, will work to provide greater technical stability and reduce errors. The second half of the season will be crucial: despite the early decision to focus all resources on developing the 2026 car, the British team can and must fight for what would be one of its best results in the past decade.
Photo: Atlassian Williams Racing
