Alex Albon looks back with satisfaction on the recent Formula 1 season. Against all odds, Williams made a massive leap compared to previous years. Teammate Carlos Sainz frequently found himself on the podium, while the team racked up more points than in the last seven seasons combined. Albon reflects on a ‘fantastic’ year and searches for explanations for this breakthrough.
For Alex Albon, it quickly became clear that Williams was heading for a competitive season in 2025. During the opening race in Australia, the British-Thai driver finished in fifth place—an achievement he could only dream of in previous seasons. The race weekend in Melbourne was undoubtedly the most memorable for Albon. “I’m most proud of the first race of the year,” he reflected to F1.com. “That may seem obvious, but at that moment, it was my best result ever for the team.” The 29-year-old driver would later finish in P5 several more times.
The result came as a surprise to the entire team, according to Albon. “It set us up for a fantastic start to the season,” he continued. “I remember—I think I was in fourth place at the time—thinking, ‘This is never going to happen again.’ But in the end, it happened a few more times.” He emphasized the positive atmosphere within the team and the crucial role of team principal James Vowles. “Our culture made the difference this season,” he stated. “James deserves a lot of credit for that.”
‘No Egos Allowed at Williams’
“There’s a genuine openness at Williams,” explained Albon. “Everyone is willing to learn and improve. There are no egos here. I’m not saying that’s the case with other teams, but I think this is really important. We’re positive, and the energy is fantastic. That drives this team forward.” Albon personally had a ‘great’ year, he concluded. “We’ve been working towards this for four years. The fact that we finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship shows we’re on our way to becoming a top team.”
“There are many years ahead of us,” Albon declared with determination. “I believe the gap between tenth and fifth place is smaller than the gap between fifth and first, in terms of performance and ambitions. But I’m proud of the team, proud of myself, and ready for next year.” Williams scored over a hundred championship points this season for the first time since 2016. Just five years ago, the team finished at the bottom of the standings without a single point.
