Despite a penalty and falling behind, Alexander Albon creates an emotional moment for Williams at Carlos Sainz’s podium finish, thrilling Formula 1 fans.
The Williams team experienced a special moment at the Formula 1 race in Baku. Team principal James Vowles watched with visible emotion as Carlos Sainz celebrated his first podium finish for the legendary Grove-based racing team. Standing directly behind him was teammate Alexander Albon, who, despite a difficult weekend, acknowledged his teammate’s performance with a broad grin on his face.
Albon had a disappointing Sunday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Starting from the back of the grid, he received an additional ten-second time penalty after a collision with Franco Colapinto and finished only 13th. Nevertheless, he was happy about Sainz’s success and beamed during his teammate’s podium ceremony.
This scene quickly attracted attention on social media. Fans not only highlighted Albon’s sporting gesture, but also the team culture that has developed since Vowles took office. Many users praised the respectful interaction within the team and said that team founder Sir Frank Williams would have been proud.
Fans on social media are moved
In response to a post by Autosport on X, several commenters expressed this in a way that exemplifies how Williams is being built under the former Mercedes strategist.
We’re not crying, you are
— Gulf Oil International (@GulfOilIntl) September 21, 2025
“I’m really happy for the team! James is a wonderful person, Carlos and Alex are really nice guys. Sir Frank would have been proud!” wrote one. Another added: “He’s one of the best team bosses! He’s so happy.“
”This is the BEST. Alex is the ultimate sportsman for this,“ wrote another, while a fourth added: ”There is no ME in TEAM.“ Others highlighted the strength of the duo themselves: ”Love seeing the respect they have for each other and for the team. Perfect duo and exactly what Williams needed.“
What the podium means to Sainz
Sponsors also picked up on the positive mood. Gulf Oil International, for example, posted the message: ”We’re not crying, you are.”
Sainz himself spoke afterwards about the emotional significance of this podium. The Spaniard confirmed his close ties to the team and addressed the difficult past few months: “We’ve had a very tough year. Of all the drivers who have changed teams, I believe I was the one who adapted best to the car and was fast right from the start. Nevertheless, we had problems over many races that we couldn’t fully explain. That was mentally very demanding for me and also for my engineers,“ he explained.
”Nevertheless, this podium shows that patience and hard work pay off. It was the first podium for Williams this season, and I’m glad we were able to celebrate this moment together. You have to keep believing in yourself and keep going, then the reward will come.”
