Alex Albon has highlighted his unbelievable partnership with team-mate Carlos Sainz as a key cause for Williams having fun with its greatest System 1 season for eight years.
The historic British outfit got here fifth within the 2025 standings, which is its greatest end result since 2017 after it spent years on the again throughout the late 2010s to early 2020s.
That down interval got here throughout monetary struggles underneath the Williams household’s possession, by which it must signal pay drivers, who weren’t ok for F1, to easily maintain afloat.
However the takeover by Dorilton Capital, plus the introduction of a price cap in 2021, led to the workforce’s resurgence and 2025 additionally noticed it rating a number of podiums for the primary time in 10 years.
That was a results of Sainz claiming third in Azerbaijan and Qatar amid his debut season for Williams, having joined from Ferrari after it opted to signal Lewis Hamilton in his place.
The arrival of the four-time grand prix winner was however an enormous enhance, because it lastly gave Williams a second driver nearly as good as Albon who, since becoming a member of in 2022, had team-mates like Nicholas Latifi and Logan Sargeant.
When requested on the Abu Dhabi finale how a lot of an affect Sainz had, the 29-year-old stated: “Undoubtedly totally different by way of a tradition and mindset. I’d say that, being completely sincere, simply as an method between the 2 automobiles, rather more equal in the best way that the workforce has handled us.
James Vowles, Group Principal of Williams, Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47, Alex Albon, Williams FW47
Picture by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“I might positively say I had, for almost all, the preferential remedy in earlier years. When it comes to us two working collectively, [there is] extra backwards and forwards by way of suggestions ping-pong, the place we’re simply having the identical opinions in regards to the automotive.
“We communicate in a really related language, I feel. Carlos is extra skilled than I’m, however by way of our age and our method, we deal with issues in a really related approach.”
Albon subsequently thinks the 31-year-old has helped him develop into a greater driver, with 2025 little doubt being the Thai-Briton’s greatest season but since making his F1 debut in 2019.
“When it comes to pushing me, sure, it is nice to have somebody,” added Albon, who completed eighth within the 2025 championship and one spot increased than Sainz.
“It is a totally different knowledge set to take a look at, totally different driving fashion to me. We wish related issues within the automotive, however we really usually arrive to qualifying with a really related set-up.
“I really feel like each driver would say this, when you could have a team-mate who’s a step up, you study extra. There’s extra to study by way of your driving types. There are some corners that you simply had been beforehand fast at, which you are now the identical as.
“And there are some corners that you might want to study, adapt, drive otherwise. And I am positive it goes the opposite approach for Carlos too. It has been good to see.
“I feel the largest factor I’ve realized from Carlos is extra the non-driving aspect of issues. So the best way that we conduct conferences and develop the automotive within the simulator and go round our free observe programmes, issues like that, you may see the expertise with Carlos in that approach.”
We need to hear from you!
Tell us what you want to see from us sooner or later.
– The Autosport.com Group
