Williams – the F1 precedent that rekindles Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon’s hopes for 2025. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon will team up to pull Williams out of its slump.

For the first time in four years, Carlos Sainz finds himself outside a top team, and now more than ever, he is called upon to give his best to revive Williams’ fortunes. In this mission, the Spaniard will be joined by the already well-integrated Alex Albon, who has been with the team since 2022. Can they make a difference together? Some data suggest they might.

Williams is coming off a difficult year marked by numerous mistakes. These errors resulted in a total of 20 crashes across 24 races, with mechanics frequently forced into extra work and spare parts running dangerously low. Toward the end of the year, the team even risked sending Franco Colapinto on track with the 2023 chassis.

As a result, the 2024 season ended with a ninth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship, a two-position drop from the previous year. Despite this setback, Grove’s future prospects appear promising.

First, Williams managed to secure Carlos Sainz for the 2025 Formula 1 season, fending off competition from Kick Sauber and Alpine. With a lineup featuring the former Ferrari driver and Alex Albon, the team now boasts two solid and experienced drivers on paper, an improvement over previous seasons.

Second, pre-season testing in Bahrain showcased a competitive car, with Carlos Sainz setting the fastest time across all three days. Additionally, a recent precedent offers further optimism.

Williams’ last podium finish was not too long ago, specifically at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix. Although the race was effectively canceled due to adverse weather conditions, George Russell had secured second place in qualifying and stood on the podium on Sunday.

Finally, even the fans seem to believe in the team’s resurgence. According to a RacingNews365 poll asking whether Williams would reach the podium in 2025, 65% of respondents answered positively.

Specifically, 28.2% believe Williams will achieve a podium finish once, while 36.8% are confident the team will make multiple podium appearances. On the other hand, 25.7% suspect Williams will not finish on the podium in any race this year.