The Sainz switch was supposed to give Williams a boost, but so far it is Alexander Albon who has been shining: Why he has become the number one driver in the team
Williams driver Alexander Albon has used the hype surrounding his new Formula 1 teammate Carlos Sainz to his advantage in the first phase of the 2025 season.
“It was fantastic for the team to bring in someone with Carlos’ experience and speed. He was obviously the benchmark for me right away.”
“But as a driver, you have to ask yourself: How do I use this energy? I’ve used it positively.”
Albon felt “sometimes underestimated”
Albon had been longing for a real yardstick at Williams because he had felt “sometimes underestimated” alongside Nicholas Latifi, Logan Sargeant, and Franco Colapinto.
“They all had their strong moments at Williams,” Albon explained. “But it’s different when you have someone like Carlos next to you who is coming off a strong season at Ferrari. That’s why I always wanted him on the team. Because Carlos is a great comparison for me.”
So far, this comparison has been positive for Albon: he leads Sainz 8-6 in qualifying and 9-4 in Grand Prix races. However, the picture is even clearer in the drivers’ standings, where Albon is eighth with 54 points, while Sainz is 16th with only 16 points.
Albon looks back on his 2025 season so far
That’s why Albon is satisfied with his Formula 1 season so far. “I’ve had consistently solid weekends, never a disaster. There have always been highlights,” said the Williams driver.
“The team gave me a great car that allowed me to finish fifth and sixth – results that stand out.”
Thanks to the good technical foundation, he can concentrate on “doing my job cleanly,” said Albon. However, nothing has changed in his approach: “I’ve only made small improvements. I’m proud of that. Because so far, it’s been a consistent season.“
He emphasized that Williams had managed its races calmly, flawlessly, and cleverly so far: ”We took advantage of the opportunities—whether through strategy or conditions—and just did a very solid job.”
Fifth place in Australia provides a boost
Albon explained that fifth place in the Formula 1 season opener in Australia in particular gave the team a big boost. “That not only gave us energy, but also peace of mind. The motto was: ‘Okay, we can do this. We have a good car.’ Melbourne confirmed that. Unlike in the past, we didn’t have to take any big risks or try exotic strategies.”
And that’s how it stayed: Williams goes into the remaining races of the 2025 Formula 1 season in fifth place in the constructors’ championship.
Albon says: “If we work cleanly, qualify well and remain error-free, we are on the right track for the rest of the year.”
