Alexander Albon is incredibly positive about the course Williams has taken under the leadership of James Vowles. According to the Thai-British driver, the foundation of the current progress was laid years ago, and it is primarily Vowles’ realistic, thoughtful approach that is now beginning to bear fruit.
“In all honesty,” says Albon, “I signed with Williams at the time because I knew there was potential in the team. But it was far from clear that we would end up at this point. What we are experiencing now is the result of a trajectory that was set in motion a few years ago.” According to Albon, this turnaround began in 2024, a season that was seen from the outside as a step back. “Many people saw that year as a disappointment, but internally the greatest progress was made. The fundamental structure of the team changed. What you see this season is the result of those choices.”
Honest and Calculated
Albon is particularly pleased with the way Vowles leads the team and sets the tone within the organization. According to him, Vowles’ strength is that he does not sugarcoat the situation at Williams, but remains honest and transparent about the challenges and opportunities. “James is honest about our strengths and weaknesses. He doesn’t sell pipe dreams, like ‘next year we’ll be at the front’. He has a realistic, calculated plan. As a result, the whole trajectory feels credible and I am confident that I am in the right place.”
The approach is bearing fruit this year. Williams has already managed to score a podium finish purely on speed, something Alexander Albon didn’t think possible at the start of the season. “During the shakedown in Silverstone, I already felt that we had made a big leap — bigger than I had anticipated. And the best part is: we might only be at 60 percent of our journey. There is still so much to improve, but we are already close to the top teams.” According to Albon, it is primarily this long-term vision, where consistent steps are more important than quick successes, that is gradually bringing Williams back to the subtop.
