Williams Team Principal James Vowles is brimming with confidence about the team’s driver lineup for the 2025 Formula 1 season, as Carlos Sainz joins forces with Alex Albon. Vowles believes that this duo will give Williams one of the strongest and most compatible driver pairings on the grid, helping to push the team closer to the front of the pack.
The announcement of Sainz’s move to Williams, beating out competition from Alpine and Sauber/Audi, marked a significant coup for the Grove-based team. Vowles, who had targeted Sainz as a key signing since December 2023, sees the Spaniard’s arrival as a critical step in his long-term plan to restore Williams to its former glory.
Vowles revealed that transparency was key in convincing Sainz to join. “From the very beginning, it was the same message all the way through,” Vowles explained. “I was upfront with Carlos about where we are, the challenges we face, but also our ambitions and the progress we’re making behind the scenes. Over the course of about eight months, he saw how we were translating those plans into action.”
The partnership between Sainz and Albon, who has a long-term contract with Williams, is seen by Vowles as a perfect blend of talent and teamwork. He emphasized that both drivers are not only fierce competitors but also natural leaders who will push the team forward. “I think I have the best or a combination of the best drivers on the grid,” Vowles said. “There’s no politics between them, just pure competition and a shared goal of driving the team forward.”
Vowles is also aware that Sainz’s arrival will raise expectations within the team, but he views this as a positive development. “That’s the whole point,” he said. “Having two drivers who are fighting for every second reinvigorates the energy within the team. It pushes everyone to find that extra bit of performance, to innovate and to improve.”
As for Albon, Vowles believes that Sainz’s presence will only elevate the British-Thai driver’s performance. “You haven’t seen Alex fully challenged yet, but when you have someone like Carlos who raises the bar, it pushes you forward,” Vowles remarked. “I think you’ll see a very differently invigorated Alex. He’s going to reach new heights.”
With Sainz and Albon at the helm, Vowles is optimistic about Williams’ future, particularly as the team prepares for the new regulations coming in 2026. The team’s recent investments in personnel and resources are part of a broader strategy to capitalize on the reset and climb back up the grid. The arrival of Sainz is a crucial piece of that puzzle, and Vowles is confident that Williams is now better positioned than ever to achieve its ambitious goals.
Photo from Vowles Instagram
