Williams trusts Carlos Sainz to unlock his full pace soon, as the team works hard to make him feel at home.
Williams Team Principal James Vowles isn’t losing sleep over Carlos Sainz’s quiet start to the 2025 season. In fact, he’s full of praise for what the Spaniard is bringing to the team—especially behind the scenes.
Speaking to Sky F1, Vowles made it clear: “I want the world to understand just how brilliant Carlos is—especially out of the spotlight. When a driver struggles, many turn inward and carry that weight alone. Carlos has done the opposite.”
“He’s stepped up. He’s been working with Alex [Albon], pushing to help the team score strong results. Yes, he’s still adjusting to the FW47, and we’re still working to give him the comfort and confidence he needs—but that’s part of the process.”
While Sainz is still finding his rhythm, Albon has hit the ground running. After a tough 2024, the Thai-British driver has already scored more points this year than in the whole of last season. And Vowles has taken notice.
“Alex hasn’t put a foot wrong. What I love about him is that when the helmet’s off, he’s relaxed, witty, and light-hearted—but make no mistake, he’s here to prove he belongs at the top level. More than that, he wants to prove he can challenge someone like Carlos.”
“Sainz has won a race more recently than I have,” Vowles added with a smile. “He’s the benchmark. And Alex is right there with him. When I joined in 2023, I saw him starting to rise. And now? After pre-season testing in Bahrain and a strong showing in Melbourne, he’s gone up another level. There’s no doubt about that.”

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Sainz Settling In: Williams Backs ‘Brilliant’ New Star
Sainz Settling In: Williams Backs ‘Brilliant’ New Star