(Motorsport-Total.com) – Williams team principal James Vowles is convinced that Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz will also start for the traditional racing team in the upcoming Formula 1 season. The Brit emphasizes that both drivers openly discuss possible alternatives with him.
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Williams made significant progress last year with fifth place in the constructors’ standings. Expectations for the 2026 season have so far remained unfulfilled. The FW48 is too heavy and, according to the team, lacks sufficient downforce.
Vowles explains that work is being done on the problems. Further weight reductions are planned for the upcoming races until the car reaches the prescribed minimum weight. Placements in the points in Miami, Monaco, and Montreal also showed that the package fundamentally has potential.
“Carlos and Alex want to spend their future at Williams”
Despite the so far mixed season and speculation about a possible role for Sainz in the 2027 driver market, Vowles sees no cause for concern. Both drivers have committed themselves to the long-term project.
“The good thing about both is that they share the same values as I do, namely honesty and transparency,” explains Vowles. “That’s why we have honest conversations. Since October last year, when I first recognized the problems, and also from January to March, I explained to them what we are doing to improve the situation this year.”
This has led to Sainz and Albon gaining trust in the team principal’s way of working. “They know that they don’t just hear the good news from me, but also the bad. But there are still positive aspects. The speed at which we develop and bring new parts to the track is very good.”
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Vowles: Top teams would make any driver think
Vowles emphasizes that the mutual openness also means that both drivers would inform him if they were considering other options. “At the moment, Carlos and Alex want to spend their future at Williams. They told me that and have also stated it publicly,” says the Brit.
At the same time, the team principal admits that it is natural for drivers to keep options open with top teams. “If a spot opened up at Mercedes tomorrow, it would be foolish not to consider your own possibilities,” he says. Nevertheless, both drivers are currently focused on Williams.
“They support our investments in the future and the direction we have taken. We did not do their performance justice over the winter. We made mistakes there,” admits Vowles. His task now is to quickly counteract and provide the drivers with a car again with which they can fight for podiums in the future.
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Furthermore, Vowles highlights that Albon and Sainz have already invested a lot of time and work in building the team. He wants to offer them an environment where they can take a leading role with a lot of say. According to the team principal, this is an important part of Williams’ long-term project.
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