Alex Albon has had an incredibly impressive start in the 2025 Formula 1 season, currently sitting in sixth place in the constructors with 19 points, 18 of which are due to Albon’s performances.
After the Bahrain Grand Prix, both Williams drivers missed out on a potential points finish. Haas took two points finishes and moved themselves into fifth place. With the midfield incredibly close, a single points finish could be the difference between a vital place in the constructors’ championship.
The William’s driver confessed he thought that the FW47 wasn’t far behind the Haas, instead they found themselves caught out by the safety car.
“I think in many ways, last week we got a little bit unlucky with the Safety Car. I think we were on for a good points finish. But that’s it—it’s so close now.”
During media day ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Albon admitted that Haas’ performance came as a shock to the team. He said, “I don’t think after Melbourne we would have ever said that Haas were going to be the mix and then they came back very strongly.”
However, despite a weekend of close misses for Williams, the season has without a doubt been one of their strongest in recent years. Albon was quick to agree and sing the praises of the FW47.
He said, “As a team, we can reflect on the first four races: we’ve been very consistent. The gap to P1 has always been very similar. I think the other midfield teams are a little bit peakier. They can score good points, but not every time. I think for us, realistically, we should have had four points finishes in four races.”
Personal satisfaction
With Carlos Sainz joining the Grove-based team for the 2025 season, there were murmurs inside and outside of the paddock that Alex Albon would find himself in the secondary role at the team. Instead, he’s taken an important step forward, finding himself as the primary points scorer in the early rounds.
Albon wasn’t hesitant in telling the media that this season has come with pressure, but the kind of pressure he enjoys. “In Bahrain, in Q1, we just didn’t get things optimal, and that’s it—you’re out straight away. There’s a lot of pressure on every lap that you do in the midfield right now and that’s exciting.”
The Thai-Brit also was pleased with how the season was panning out, praising the competitiveness of the field. “Honestly, yeah, it’s been a really strong start to the season for us. We felt good in the car from the first lap we drove in the shakedown at Silverstone. It’s given us a good feeling. It’s much more enjoyable to drive and honestly I’m just enjoying the racing up there.”
“It feels like every race you go in not knowing where you’re going to come out. It’s been the most enjoyable season of Formula 1 for me so far.”
Limitations of the FW46
Despite Albon’s high praises of the car and its performance in the 2025 season so far, no car is without faults. Alex Albon’s teammate, Carlos Sainz, has been more vocal of the ‘weaknesses’ the FW47 suffers.
Albon was asked about these issues and how they’re being addressed within the team, and if there’s a difference on opinion between teammates. He said, “I mean, we don’t talk too much about weaknesses in the car for our rivals, but for the most part, yes. It’s very corner-specific and it’s wind-specific. It can depend. There are some low-speed corners where we’re actually very competitive”
“It’s still there in the car, but less so. I think we made some good steps, and we’ve improved other areas of the car in different corners. The car is now being brought together in a much better place, and we don’t need to sacrifice too much of other parts of the track to benefit the low-speed corner.”
“With Carlos joining, it’s clear that he has a driving style he wants to use with the car. And being totally honest, there’s nothing new to what I feel.”
Working together
Albon was quick to defend his teammate’s complaints, putting his comfort down to the longevity he has with the team in comparison to Sainz.
He said, “I think what’s really good, though, is his ideas and a fresh approach—a fresh mind. A different voice saying similar things.”
“We’re both very aligned on where the car needs to improve. And it’s true that maybe over time I’ve just become a bit more exceptional at how to drive the car, and he’s brought that fresh energy to get it to where he wants it to be.”
He confirmed that as teammates, they worked together to move the team forward. Emphasising the cohesiveness within the team. “I think as a team, we’re very open, much more open than what normally two drivers are. We have open discussions about where we think the car needs to go.
“That being said, even our meetings are pretty much together. We’re discussing everything as one big piece. So yeah, we’re very, very aligned.”
