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“They don’t have a political bone”: James Vowles explains why Sainz and Albon will work well together at Williams

Writer's picture: Jiya MahapatraJiya Mahapatra

Written by Jiya Mahapatra, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri


Williams will be parting ways with Franco Colapinto into 2025, with Sainz joining the team
Williams will be parting ways with Franco Colapinto into 2025, with Sainz joining the team | Credit - Williams Racing

Following the announcement of Lewis Hamilton replacing Carlos Sainz at Scuderia Ferrari, the ex-Ferrari racer signed a contract with Williams Racing, driving alongside Alex Albon for the 2025 Formula One season. 


Many were unsure  how well the duo would work together, being competitive drivers in prime form in their respective careers, and are likely to want to be treated as the driver of priority.


However, Williams team principal James Vowles credited both Sainz and Albon for being team players, and weighed in on why they would be a strong pairing on the track. 


He stated: “One of the elements that is great with Carlos and Alex is that neither one has any politics. They don’t have a political bone.” 


Here, Vowles is referring to the often contentious nature of F1 team dynamics, with drivers often clashing over being considered the ‘number 1 driver’. 


Sainz is expected to spearhead Williams charge in 2025.
Sainz with Williams during the end-of-season season testing in Abu Dhabi, 2024 | Credit: Formula 1

Be it for pride, fame or an improved chance of winning, all drivers fight to be treated as the team’s focus, which matters when it comes to team orders and strategies. 


However, Vowles described how Sainz and Albon are more focused on helping the team as much as possible rather than individual gain. 


He emphasised this by saying: “They just want the car to be quick and they want to perform the best that they can within that environment.” 


Sainz gelled with Williams during the post season Abu Dhabi test.
Credit: Formula 1

Vowles' impressions of the two drivers are to some extent true. Sainz showed a tremendous amount of sportsmanship and selflessness during his time at Ferrari, in order to help the team score as many points as possible. 


He often accepted strategy calls that favoured his teammate Charles Leclerc, such as during the race at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2023, where the Italian team prioritised Leclerc when it was time to pit. 


The strategy caused Sainz to be undercut by Lewis Hamilton, and meant that he had to settle for P6 rather than being close to a podium. 


During the post-race interviews, Sainz took it well and focused on the positives rather than complaining about the team’s strategy decision. 


This race was just one example of Sainz’s priorities, which involved working with the team rather than being treated as an individual racer. 


Albon is also well known for being a good team player, and has been a leader within the team since joining Williams in 2022. 


Vowles went on to praise Albon, saying: “When things get difficult, he pulls forward and lifts the team back up to emotional strength.”


His positivity and resilience even in the team’s tough times has made him a reliable team member. 


Albon will be looking to continue the same resurgence with Williams into 2025.
Credits: Williams Racing 

Sainz and Albon evidently have similar ethos, and both drivers aim to bring Williams back to glory. It’s clear Vowles believes their team-focused mindsets will allow them to work well together. 


On the other hand, Albon may not be used to having a teammate who is as competitive and experienced as Sainz. 


The Thai driver may have gotten used to mentoring rookies such as Logan Sargeant and Franco Colapinto, and may find the dynamic with Sainz to be a change of pace. He may discover the need to push harder and take more risks to keep up with Sainz. 


In spite of that, Vowles thinks that even if they do compete with each other, they’ll race in a fair way that doesn’t create problems and extra work for the team. 


The Williams team principal continued: “They’re not doing it by knocking the wheels off each other’s cars. They’re doing it by, if one of them is faster than the other one, they can race.” 


Overall, Vowles has made his stance clear, and has explained why he believes Sainz and Albon will make a good pairing on track. 


They’ll certainly be a team to watch, and provided Williams gives them a fast-paced car, they should be able to make things happen for the Grove-based squad. 





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