During the Singapore Grand Prix, Williams devised a surprising strategy that enabled Carlos Sainz to snatch the final point on offer. However, the true protagonist of the operation was Alexander Albon.
Following a double disqualification on Saturday, both Williams drivers started from the back of the grid. Carlos Sainz lined up at the very rear, while Albon started directly from the pit lane with a modified setup to test a new component. The race initially seemed compromised. But from lap 38 onwards, everything changed.
Albon received a clear order from the pit wall: slow down to help Carlos Sainz. The goal was to create a gap with Lawson to facilitate his teammate’s pit stop. “We need a gap of 1.5 seconds,” his race engineer, James Urwin, instructed over the radio. Alex Albon tried to comply, but with a touch of irony, he responded: “I can’t go any slower, they’ll figure out what I’m doing.”
Despite the sacrifice of his own strategy, Alex Albon carried out the task. When Lawson came in for his pit stop, Albon rejoined the track right behind him. Mission accomplished: Sainz was able to pit and re-enter the race ahead of both competitors. With fresh tires, Carlos then overtook Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, Yuki Tsunoda, and Isack Hadjar, eventually finishing in tenth place. It was a single point, but a well-deserved one.
After crossing the finish line, team principal James Vowles thanked Alex Albon over the radio: “You played for the team. Thank you, Alex.” However, the driver did not hold back in his feedback: “The test component? It’s not working.”
Williams may have missed an opportunity with Albon, but the team demonstrated exceptional teamwork. Now, attention turns to the next Grand Prix in Austin. Expect another intense battle… even behind the scenes.
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