James Vowles shares the ‘biggest difference’ he’s seen in Alex Albon since Carlos Sainz’s arrival

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Alex Albon knew he would face his biggest test at Williams yet when Carlos Sainz signed from Ferrari, but he has handled it in fine style.

The 29-year-old has been Williams’ lead driver since he returned to F1 in 2022 following his exit from Red Bull. The likes of Nicholas Latifi and Logan Sargeant struggled to keep up with Albon, while Franco Colapinto offered some competition at the end of 2024.

With Sainz coming on board for 2025 from Ferrari, David Coulthard felt it was ‘make or break’ for Albon. The Thai driver has yet to be tested at Williams until now, and he is still the driver to beat.

Albon has established himself as the driver at the top of the midfield, sitting eighth in the drivers’ championship. With four P5 finishes thus far, he has scored 70 of Williams’ 102 points as they sit fifth in the standings.

Sainz endured a frustrating start to 2025 as he struggled to adapt to the FW47 and the operation in Grove. Albon’s experience with the team has paid dividends against his teammate, and team principal James Vowles has noticed huge changes in the Thai driver.

James Vowles praises Alex Albon’s step up in confidence as the ‘biggest difference’ since Carlos Sainz joined Williams

Speaking via the Beyond The Grid podcast, Vowles says that Albon’s confidence and belief have been the ‘biggest difference’ he has noticed in him since Sainz’s arrival. The boss does not have to push him ‘for a second’ as he knows exactly what to do in the car.

“I would say the biggest difference I’ve noticed with Alex is a step up in his confidence and belief. That’s the main thing, in the team and himself at the same time,” said Vowles.

“Actually, he’s always been very good at knowing what he wants from the car. The best way to explain it to you is that every human being goes through cycles where they’re more or less confident in themselves in the car and what goes around.

“You cannot waiver Alex one bit this year. Not for a second can you even just push him. He is absolutely confident in what he is doing and what the car is doing around that.

“That doesn’t mean we’re perfect on the car, not by any stretch of the imagination. But his driving force is one of: ‘Fix this, fix this, and I will go faster,’ and it’s directing the team in the right way.”

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Carlos Sainz is beginning to mount pressure on Alex Albon at Williams

It is clear that Albon has been Williams’ top driver for much of 2025. However, Sainz is starting to find his feet in Grove and is mounting the pressure on his teammate.

Sainz grabbed his first Williams podium in Baku with a stunning P3, having qualified on the front row of the grid. The Spaniard maintained a strong pace while Albon finished outside the points in 13th.

The Thai driver was beaten again in Singapore after both Williams drivers were disqualified in qualifying. Sainz executed a long final stint on the hard tyres and finished 10th to score a podium, while Albon expressed frustration with a ‘test item’ and finished 14th.

Sainz may be starting to apply the pressure on Albon that many expected him to do at the start of the season. He could have his work cut out come 2026, where Williams hope to push towards the front under the new technical regulations.