Williams knew that acquiring the services of Carlos Sainz, whilst obviously a huge positive, would massively increase scrutiny on the team. For the first time in almost a decade, a race winner is driving for the Grove squad.
The buzz surrounding Williams only intensified in testing, when the FW47 set the fastest lap overall.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s season opener, team principal James Vowles wants to set realistic expectations.
Williams optimistic, but still expect midfield battle
A series of factors prevented the Grove-based operation from performing at their best last year.
Damage costs from an unprecedented number of crashes forced Williams to divert resources away from upgrades to produce spare parts.
Having already started the 2024 season with an overweight car, the team’s chances of achieving meaningful progress evaporated.
Heading into this year’s campaign, there is far more stability at Williams.
26.02.2025. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day One.
A smooth winter has allowed them to make important progress, which they believe has produced a significant step forward.
Then again, their impressive times from testing were partly the consequence of variable conditions and running low fuel.
James Vowles has outlined some of the mitigating factors behind Sainz’s fastest time in Bahrain:
“The wind was quite strong, and the temperatures varied as well,” he explains.
“Both of those effects mean that you can have a swing of half a second, or even a second and a half at certain points.
“Significant, when you’re trying to measure times across the days.
“We’re obviously in a positive place, as much as we put in headline times.
“But a word of caution, we were running different programmes to McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari.
“They’re more focused, perhaps, on durability, long runs, and a little bit more fuel in the car.”
28.02.2025. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day Three.
2026 remains the priority
Such comments are to be expected from any team principal in pre-season.
Keeping expectations at a minimal level is essential to prevent unpleasant narratives from emerging in the event of a slow start.
This is particularly crucial for Williams, who are prioritising 2026 development above everything else.
The consensus is that Williams should feature in this year’s midfield battle.
Where exactly they will place is unclear, especially with the likes of Aston Martin keeping their cards close to their chest in Sakhir.
Generally speaking, the data from testing suggests James Vowles’ squad could be near the front of the midfield.
A strong driver pairing in Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon will make a top 6 position in the constructors a realistic objective.
Still, Williams have articulated on numerous occasions where their focus lies.
For this season, establishing themselves and improving on last year’s 9th place finish is the aim.
However, the changes taking place behind the scenes are almost exclusively centred around the2026 regulations:
“That doesn’t mean we haven’t made a step forward,” continued James Vowles.
“I’m confident that the car we have this year, in every single area you can look at, is better.
“But where it all shakes out? That’s the beauty of Melbourne, nobody will know until we get there.”
