Firmly securing a sixth-place position during the 2025 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix qualifiers, Alex Albon of Williams Racing is optimistic about his team’s chances in this year’s midfield contest. The Thai-British racer impressively positioned his FW47 on the third row in anticipation of Sunday’s race, following an exceptional Q3 qualifying lap.
Carlos Sainz, Albon’s teammate and fellow debutant for the British team, also demonstrated praiseworthy performance. Sainz successfully advanced to the final qualifying session, clocking a lap time that secured him a respectable 10th place. These performances are a testament to William’s remarkable progress, as evidenced during the pre-season testing in Bahrain. The team has evidently made significant strides since 2024, positioning itself as a formidable contender among the top midfield teams this season.
Albon expressed immense satisfaction with the team’s progress, particularly impressed with his own performance. He told reporters, including those from Motorsport Week, “These tyres are super sensitive, and sector three was initially a bit unpredictable. It was challenging to comprehend the tyre’s performance, but by the day’s last run, I was able to optimize it.”
He went on to highlight the substantial improvements made by the team from the previous year, extending beyond performance to even aspects like parts and weight. He expressed a sense of renewed approach heading into the weekend’s race and is hopeful of carrying this positive momentum from Bahrain to Australia.
Albon acknowledges the midfield competition in 2025 will be fierce. He affirmed, “The Alpine and the RB could have qualified P5 given the right circumstances. The midfield is going to be a battleground, but we’re inching closer to the top teams. It’s an exciting season ahead, and everything’s up for grabs.”
Carlos Sainz, despite his commendable qualifying position, described his performance as a bit ‘scrappy.’ The Spaniard, like many other drivers this season, appears to be grappling with adjustments to a new team. After pre-season testing, he openly admitted feeling ‘a bit lost’ ahead of Melbourne’s season opener.
Sainz, a former Ferrari driver, confessed his struggles with understanding his new car’s limits and pushing it to its peak performance. Even after a strong qualifying, he reiterated his concerns. He did, however, express joy for his team’s success and his own achievement of making it into Q3 during his first quali with Williams.
Reflecting on his qualifying performance, Sainz said, “I was always one step behind, reacting to circumstances rather than leading. In such a tight field, any misstep is costly, and today, I paid the price in Q3. But, I’m confident that it’s only a matter of time before I start delivering consistent performances, and I’m eagerly looking forward to it.”
In conclusion, the Williams team, with promising performances from both Albon and Sainz, is gearing up to make its mark in the 2025 Formula 1 season. The Australian Grand Prix qualifiers have set the stage for an intense midfield ‘dogfight’, and Williams is clearly up for the challenge.
