Williams’ Stunning Comeback: From Struggles to Top 5

One Year Later: Williams F1’s Stunning Transformation

17/03/2025

One year ago, Williams struggled. Now, Albon’s top-five finish in Melbourne proves the team’s remarkable turnaround. Shanghai awaits, momentum is building.

James Vowles, Williams F1’s team principal, is still in disbelief over Alex Albon’s incredible P5 finish in Melbourne.

The Thai driver originally crossed the line in fifth place but was briefly promoted to P4 after Kimi Antonelli received a five-second penalty. However, following an appeal from Mercedes, the FIA later overturned the decision.

Despite the reshuffling, Williams still walked away with a crucial 10 points.

“What an amazing feeling! When you think back to where we were 12 months ago, the difference is massive!” Vowles shared.

“Hats off to Alex—he drove a rock-solid race from start to finish, defending flawlessly against top-tier competitors and making no mistakes at all.”

The Early Blow: Sainz’s Costly Spin

The only downside? Losing Carlos Sainz at the very start of the race.

“For Carlos, the conditions were tricky. We noticed that shifting up at a particular point on a low-grip section triggered a sudden power and torque spike, causing the car to spin. We need to analyze that closely.”

Still, Vowles remains optimistic.

“What really matters is that both our cars had the potential to score points. That’s a huge step forward for us.”

“I’m immensely proud of this team, and I can’t wait to get to Shanghai in a few days. We’ve got a lot more to accomplish this season.”

Sainz’s Unexpected Role: The Strategist

After his early exit, Sainz didn’t just sit back—he stepped up. The Spaniard played a key role in Williams’ pit strategy, something Vowles truly appreciated. His input helped Albon time his pit stop perfectly.

“No result is ever down to just one person—it’s always about the team. The pit stops were spot on, the strategy was well executed… but there was one extra strategist today: Carlos. His expertise was invaluable in the switch to intermediates.”

“While other teams were hesitating—‘Can we hold on a little longer?’—Carlos was adamant: ‘We won’t survive on slicks in the final corners.’ He was absolutely right and helped us secure this result with Alex.”

Leadership Driving Williams Forward

“Alex and Carlos are true leaders, constantly pushing our team forward. We’re all here to get the best results possible for Williams.”

With their rapid progress and a strong team spirit, Williams F1 is proving they’re back in the fight. Shanghai is next—and they’re ready for more.

Albon Shines as Williams Proves Its F1 Revival

Williams’ Stunning Comeback: From Struggles to Top 5 Williams’ Stunning Comeback: From Struggles to Top 5

Race Center
China Flag
Chinese GP
21 Mar 2025 - 23 Mar 2025
Free Practice 1
21 MAR 03:30 - 04:30
Sprint Qual
21 MAR 07:30 - 08:14
Sprint Race
22 MAR 03:00 - 04:00
Qualifying
22 MAR 07:00 - 08:00
Race
23 MAR 07:00 - 09:00

2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Race Results

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
57
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
+0.895s
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
+8.481s
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
+12.773s
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
+15.135s
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
+17.413s
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
+18.423s
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
+19.826s
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
+20.448s
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
+22.473s
Pierre Gasly
11
PIERRE
GASLY
+26.502s
Yuki Tsunoda
12
YUKI
TSUNODA
+29.884s
Esteban Ocon
13
ESTEBAN
OCON
+33.161s
Oliver Bearman
14
OLIVER
BEARMAN
+40.351s
Liam Lawson
15
LIAM
LAWSON
47 DNF
Gabriel Bortoleto
16
GABRIEL
BORTOLETO
47 DNF
Fernando Alonso
17
FERNANDO
ALONSO
34 DNF
Carlos Sainz
18
CARLOS
SAINZ
0 DNF
Jack Doohan
19
JACK
DOOHAN
0 DNF
Isack Hadjar
20
ISACK
HADJAR
0 DNF
F1 CALENDAR 2025
Race
Date
Chinese Flag
Chinese
Shanghai International
23 Mar
Japanese Flag
Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
Bahrain Flag
Bahrain
Sakhir desert
13 Apr
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
United States Flag
United States
Miami
04 May

2025 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
25 Points
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
18
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
15
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
12
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
10
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
8
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
6
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
4
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
2
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
1

2025 FORMULA 1 CONSTRUCTORS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1
McLaren
27
2
Mercedes
25
3
Red Bull
18
4
Williams
12
5
Aston Martin
8
6
Sauber
6
7
Ferrari
5
8
Alpine F1
0
9
Haas F1
0
10
Racing Bulls
0
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