Why Albon is certain Williams will produce strong 2026 F1 car

Williams Formula 1 driver Alex Albon says he has "so much confidence" his team can take another step forward after its rise to fifth in 2025.

Williams secured a comfortable fifth place in the constructors' standings as the experienced and rapid combination of Albon and new team-mate Carlos Sainz combined for 137 points, the Grove-based squad's best result in a decade.

Even if the team has been largely focused on 2026 and beyond, its 2025 campaign is the result of a quick transformation of the squad behind the scenes, led by team boss James Vowles and sanctioned by owner Dorilton Capital.

Following a troubled 2024 campaign that was marked by costly crashes, a late and overweight launch car and various operational errors, 2025 has given Albon confidence that Williams is now in a much better place to set its sights on the front four teams, rather than look over its shoulder.

"We've had a few years where we took a step back. I think 2024 stands out to me as a year of setbacks," Albon said.

"But the foundations of the team became a lot healthier, and you saw a big jump from 2024 to 2025. There's a great positivity, great culture within the team, great optimism as well. There's confidence in the team as well.

Carlos Sainz took two podiums for Williams, including in Qatar

Photo by: Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

"I feel like we're a team that can do great things. Even if we were to start slow [in 2026], I think we've got a great team behind us who can find solutions and adapt quickly.

"I've been in this team when we did our first regulation change in 2022, and it was a tough year. I look at our team now and see how much healthier we are. I have so much confidence in the team to deliver a good car next year."

Williams returned to the podium in 2025 with two hard-earned third places for Sainz in Azerbaijan and Qatar. But Albon was also keen to point out there is still a big gap between F1's traditional front four of McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari and the rest of the midfield.

"The gap from P10 to P5 is smaller than the gap from P5 to P1, or even from P5 to P4," he pointed out.

"So, we know that we've still got a long road ahead of us, but I'm hoping my podium chances come a little bit sooner rather than later."