WILLIAMS ON THE RIGHT TRACK

For Thai-British racer Alex Albon, the 2025 Formula One season isn't just about strong race results — it's about transformation.

The Williams driver has seen the team evolve significantly since his arrival in 2022. Now, with a more stable car, an experienced new teammate in Carlos Sainz, and long-term plans in place, Albon believes Williams is on the right track to reclaiming its place among F1's front-runners.

More predictable

Founded in 1977, Williams rose to become one of F1's dominant forces, winning several championship titles in the 1980s and 1990s.

However, in more recent times, Williams has largely toiled in F1's highly competitive midfield, often fighting reliability issues and an unpredictable car. But, the FW47, the team's 2025 challenger, has given Albon fresh optimism.

After two races this year, Albon has already scored more points than he did in the whole of 2024, notching up Williams' best result since 2021 with fifth place in the season opener in Melbourne.

"There are a lot of little things on the car that make it more drivable, especially more predictable," Albon said of his new mount. "That allows the driver to extract a little bit more lap time."

A car's behavior can make or break a driver's confidence. In 2024, Albon and his teammates Logan Sargeant and Franco Colapinto had several high-profile accidents, severely depleting Williams' inventory of spare parts.

Albon says last year's car suffered with unexpected handling issues, some of which stemmed from electronic problems the team didn't always make public. Now, with those concerns largely resolved, he feels more in control.

"The car was trickier to drive last year, which possibly led to more mistakes," he admitted. "But, we've taken a huge step forward, and I feel like we're on top of a lot of those issues now."

That newfound stability has allowed Williams to focus on refining performance, rather than simply managing problems — an essential step in any team's journey back to competitiveness.

A new teammate

Albon isn't just benefiting from a better car; he's also learning from Sainz, a veteran of over 200 Grands Prix and a proven race winner who joined the team from Ferrari over the winter.

"They listen to what he has to say. I listen to what he has to say," Albon said. "He has a different approach to, and theories about, many things, and it's been really insightful."

Sainz's arrival has shifted the team dynamic, creating what Albon describes as a more even playing field between the two drivers. More importantly, it has fostered an open exchange of ideas.

"I really appreciate how Williams has welcomed Carlos. It's been so open-book, which wasn't always the case in the past," he said. "There's a real eagerness and a lack of ego within the team when it comes to learning from Carlos."

That collaborative spirit was on display in Melbourne, after Sainz spun off early in the wet. The Spaniard then took up position on the Williams pit wall, and helped devise the strategy that allowed Albon to master the tricky conditions and finish fifth.

Having a driver's perspective during those discussions proved invaluable, reinforcing the sense that Williams is operating as a more cohesive unit than in years past.

Long-term vision

While short-term success is always the goal, Albon is more focused on Williams' long-term trajectory. This is particularly pertinent, as a major regulation change is to come in next year, with profound design changes to both the car and engine.

This forces teams to balance their resources between developing their 2025 mounts, while also ensuring that they remain competitive over the coming years.

"We can't get lost in the fact that next year is going to be one of the biggest changes to Formula One in the last 20 or 30 years," Albon said. "A power unit change and a car change is massive for everyone."

"We're already shifting toward next year's car. The next three to four months will be a crucial period for the team."

Williams has made strides, but the road to the front of the grid is still a long one. Albon acknowledged the need for further improvement, especially if the team wants to challenge for top honors in the near future.

"For me, talking about finishing fifth in the Constructors' Championship is fine, but I don't want to be fifth. I want to be in the top two or three, fighting for podiums," he said. "We can't do that unless we change everything and take a big step forward."

Williams still has work to do, but for Albon, the direction is clear. After years of uncertainty, the team is finally moving forward — not just this season, but for the years to come.

Xinhua