James Vowles worried about potential ‘small nuclear reaction’ between Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz

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Williams have 10 race weekends to avoid finishing 9^th in the Constructors’ Championship and potentially earn millions in extra prize money if they can close the gap to Alpine.

Team principal James Vowles will also be well aware that Williams are one freak result away from finishing bottom of the standings for the fourth time in six years (or the fifth in seven if you discount Force India’s exclusion in 2018).

However, there are hopes that Williams are heading in the right direction even if their points tally is lower than at this stage last season.

The car is more balanced than last year’s and systems at their factory at Grove have been vastly improved, which has created some short-term pain.

Vowles is willing to sacrifice short-term success to return Williams to where he believes they belong.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship

The team have been on a huge hiring spree and engineers from across the paddock have arrived at Grove intending to lift Williams out of the midfield.

Speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast, Vowles was delighted with one key move he’s made this year that should benefit the team going forward.

Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz will be driving together in 2025 with Logan Sargeant departing the team.

While Vowles is delighted to have got a deal for Sainz over the line, he’s admitted that there are some potential drawbacks.

It’s the strongest pairing Williams have had for years and that could cause some tension, especially if things aren’t going well.

It will be up to Vowles to manage the situation carefully to avoid scuppering his long-term plans.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

Why James Vowles is worried about ‘small nuclear reaction’ between Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz

Talking about the dynamic between Sainz and Albon, Vowles said: “I’ve said time and time again, we’ve got various bits, infrastructure changes, transformation, all working in the background with some timelines to them.

“But it’s not just that I think we have one of if not the best driver lineup on the grid. The reason why I’m certain they are one of the best is I want to see them paired together, [and] see how it all works.

“But my belief is I’ve signed between the two of them the right pairing for Williams and two drivers that will put fear into others when I sit next to them on the grid, that’s what I wanted. And yes, it creates pressure. I’ve created a small nuclear reaction.

“It’s all intentional and our job now is to make sure that we harness that and we use it to the best of our ability because we have a responsibility to provide them equipment and a car that is not one that scores four points, but one scoring points every weekend and on the right pathway from moving up.”

READ MORE: Williams driver Alex Albon’s life outside F1 from net worth, girlfriend to parents

Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon becoming too competitive a positive problem for Williams

It’s been four years since Albon last stood on a Formula 1 podium, while Sainz has recorded five top-three finishes this season alone.

Despite his disparity, it’s expected that Albon and Sainz will be very close once they’re paired together next year.

Damon Hill doesn’t think Sainz will have demanded to be Williams’s number-one driver but instead, the Spaniard will want to prove that he’s quicker than Albon.

The top teams on the grid always have one eye on how drivers are performing elsewhere on the grid and the direct comparison between Albon and Sainz will give them a good indication of who to potentially make a move for if a seat opens up.

Vowles won’t want either driver to depart any time soon but will hope that their competitiveness will spur them both on without needing to be motivated by potentially thinking about the next step in their career.