Abu Dhabi did not provide the ideal finale for an incredible season from Williams, who, after years of struggle, finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, securing three podiums in the main races and one in the Sprint with Carlos Sainz. James Vowles highlighted a slight balance limitation as one of the reasons behind the result. While not the perfect ending, Abu Dhabi does not overshadow Williams’ 2025, which exceeded expectations. “We wanted to make sure the world saw that we are a team different from what we used to be and that we are making progress, without ever losing sight of our future,” said the team principal, who in his “Vowles Verdict” also described the relationship between Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon as “a partnership that was strong from the first minute and remained so until the end of the season.”
Abu Dhabi, an imperfect finale in a perfect season
Williams ended the season in Abu Dhabi with 11th and 16th place finishes, results that did not reflect the strong performance of Sainz and Albon throughout the year. At Yas Marina, the team could not extract the full potential of the FW47 seen in Losail the week before, which had enabled them to achieve the third podium of the season and secure fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. “Abu Dhabi wasn’t the end of the season I would have hoped for,” explained James Vowles. “I think the car had potential, but we didn’t fully realize it during the race. Margins are always tight, they were tight all year. But we can see that the development direction we took in Qatar, which was very successful, we couldn’t replicate in Abu Dhabi. I think there are many pros and cons we learned from, lots of knowledge about how to use the tires.”
Going into specifics about what went wrong, the British team principal pointed to the car’s balance as an issue they couldn’t fix during the race, affecting both drivers’ performance. The front-focused setup that had been crucial for Sainz’s Sprint qualifying in Qatar proved problematic here. “One aspect of Abu Dhabi that was a weakness we hadn’t anticipated was simply not being able to achieve the front-end grip we had on previous tracks, which penalized us in corners like Turn 9. It also increased graining during the race. So there are a few reasons behind this. It’s not just pure speed. It’s a slight balance limitation we couldn’t resolve. However, all of this gives us a good direction for next year to ensure we have a package that can handle that variety and variability better.”
A season that exceeded expectations
Summed up in one number—fifth—that is how James Vowles describes Williams’ 2025, where the team established itself as the best of the midfield, just behind the top teams. “I think it’s fair to say it exceeded our expectations,” said the team principal. “We wanted to take a step forward from where we were. We wanted to make sure the world saw that we are a team different from what we used to be and that we are making progress, without ever losing sight of our future, meaning 2026 and beyond. And this year, maintaining fifth place and, even more importantly, scoring three podiums with a substantial points haul, exceeded our expectations.”
It is no surprise that James Vowles chose “fifth” as the word that characterizes the season: at the season opener in Melbourne, Alex Albon crossed the finish line in that position, showcasing the competitiveness of the new FW47, despite Sainz’s DNF following an incident. Vowles selected the Australian GP as his favorite race of 2025: “Even though Carlos didn’t finish, and if he had, I’m convinced we would have scored highly, it was the first Grand Prix of the year. It was the first time we really saw this car compete against our rivals, and we were very fast.”
This carries several meanings: “First, it means we translated the theoretical performance from winter testing into tangible on-track performance, and second, even though Carlos wasn’t in the car, the teamwork immediately became evident when he joined us in the garage and helped us make decisions in very challenging weather conditions. It shows a team that was already cohesive and united under pressure, which really defined the rest of the year. And for me, it’s how the team came together in exceptional circumstances. The way the two drivers started working together will stay with me.”
Looking ahead to 2026
2025 has just ended, but 2026 is already approaching. Next year will mark a turning point between cars heavily influenced by ground effect and future designs, with the new technical regulations set to reshape the competitive balance. Teams like Williams, who have undertaken exponential growth, can leverage this to fight for top positions. Engineers have been working since the start of this year, studying and interpreting the new regulations. Meanwhile, Vowles revealed what excites him most about the regulatory changes: “I think it’s how electrical energy will be used in 2026. It will be quite different and I think it will create a new dynamic in races. So probably two aspects: one, the strategy around energy, and two, not having cars so dependent on ground effect as we are now. I think it will be a more enjoyable car to drive for the drivers and probably lead to better racing.”
Regarding the timing of the new FW48 launch, the Grove team principal added: “We’ll announce it fairly soon, but mid-January or just after is probably a reasonable timeframe.”
The relationship between Sainz and Albon
Williams’ season began with a new arrival on the grid: Carlos Sainz joined Grove after Lewis Hamilton moved to Ferrari, taking the seat of Franco Colapinto, Alpine’s reserve turned race driver. The Spaniard quickly integrated into the team, mastering the internal dynamics of the new squad. The bond with his teammate Alex Albon developed early, as Vowles emphasized: “It was a partnership that was strong from the first minute and remained so until the end of the season. Sometimes this can change depending on the pressures drivers and the team feel, but here nothing changed. It’s a sign that both are top-level sportsmen. This also relates to our journey back toward the front: we’re not getting lost in details of who finished where. It’s about how the team moves forward.”
A prime example was the Australian GP, the season opener and one of Sainz’s first outings in the FW47. Adjusting to the new car after four years in Ferrari, he worked with Albon, who “found a way to drive the Williams slightly differently than the Ferrari, especially through Turn 3. It helped rotate the car in corners and his mindset was very open with Carlos after FP1. That first race was the start of their relationship, which continued all season. There were subtleties in the Williams car where Alex helped Carlos and vice versa.”
From mid-season onwards, the team differentiated setups for the two drivers, testing two approaches and combining feedback after practice to guide a unified setup. “This is how the team has grown and will continue to grow next year and beyond.”
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