Alex Albon has praised the change in culture that has driven Williams to the brink of the team’s highest Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship finish in almost 10 years.
Williams and Albon endured a challenging opening season together, as the scale of the turnaround needed at the legendary outfit was brutally exposed by the uncompetitive FW44.
Ex-Mercedes Strategy Director James Vowles heralded the start of a long-term project for Williams, despite losing precious prize money after dropping down the order in 2024.
The team lies fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, 30 points clear of Racing Bulls in sixth, having achieved a first podium since 2021 with Carlos Sainz in Azerbaijan.
Albon admitted the arrival of multiple-race winner Sainz, particularly his Baku podium, has added further motivation to an already highly motivated team back at Grove.
Truthfully, the whole attitude this year has shifted,” Albon told media including Motorsport Week.
“I don’t feel like the podium has necessarily invigorated the team more because I can tell you at Grove everyone is super motivated.
“The culture and the energy is addictive, and you don’t really feel like there’s much more that the podium gave, more than, if anything, proving a point.
“It’s almost a bit of a taste, I hope, for the future of the team and for us.
“It’s a sign of things to come. Maybe it came a little earlier than we thought it would, but it shows that we’re working in the right direction.”
A welcome podium boosted by strong leadership
Pressed on if he believes Sainz’s podium could benefit him, Albon chose to focus on the team impact and “validation” of the existing belief emanating at Williams.
“I would say it was coming at some point, and I don’t think the race itself proved that we could do it,” he addressed.
“We’ve had a few P5s already this year. If anything, it’s more just a validation – to Grove and to everyone that we’re on the up.
“I think we’re the most improved midfield team by far, I would say.
“It feels like every year we’ve made a big step, and this year is clearly the bigger one of all the four years I’ve been in the team.
“Maybe it’s naive, but I’ve always been confident in the team and the journey that we’re on. I always knew there was going to be a podium coming soon.
“We’ll keep trying to make it more consistent and have more opportunity to do it. I always thought it was going to be a thing.
When asked about the leadership of Vowles, Albon detailed the change in attitude at Williams since his arrival, adding the team is now hungry for long-term success.
“Culture, in terms of belief and confidence. When I first joined the team, there was an element of just being low down,” he recounted.
“I think they kind of expected, ‘This is the way and this is where we belong.’
There’s been a huge shift in terms of open-mindedness, willingness to experiment in general, and this hunger to move and be a top team.
“That’s very much down to James and the key individuals within the team who’ve moved that [dial].
“It’s not an easy thing to do, and it shouldn’t go unnoticed just how different the atmosphere is in the team from day one when I joined to now.”
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