Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon reflect positively on the recent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. With a double points finish, the two Williams drivers convincingly claimed the title of ‘Best of the Rest’. Sainz, who made his debut with the British team this year, had a turbulent start to the season but is pleased to have found his stride. Thanks in part to the points scored in Jeddah, Williams now holds fifth place in the championship.
Sainz and Albon crossed the finish line in eighth and ninth place respectively. This earned Williams six championship points, bringing their total to 25 points after five rounds – significantly more than the Grove-based team managed to score in the entirety of 2024, when they ended the season with just seventeen. While Sainz lamented a disappointing strategy in Bahrain, he more than made up for it in Saudi Arabia. By avoiding a battle with someone like Lando Norris, he was able to focus on the competitors he could actually challenge.
In the second half of the race, the Spaniard also proved himself to be a good team player by keeping teammate Alex Albon within DRS range. This allowed the Thai-British driver to defend his ninth place against an attacking Isack Hadjar. “I think we managed to run a very good race today,” Sainz proudly commented. “Moreover, I was able to help Alex (Albon) score extra points.”
Adaptation Process
“I am very pleased that we were able to run such a strong race,” he continued, “although the first pit stop might have been a bit slow.” If Williams had made a faster stop, Sainz might have been able to keep Lewis Hamilton behind him. “My pace was very good today,” he explained. “It was definitely a challenging start to the season, but the whole adaptation process was never easy — I’ve always said it would take a few races before I was back at my level. If I stick to that philosophy, I think we’re on the right track.”
Alex Albon, who failed to qualify in the top ten, was also satisfied with the race result. “After things looked a bit gloomy yesterday, the team did a great job turning the tide,” he stated afterwards. “We opted for certainty by creating a DRS train, so Hadjar couldn’t overtake us. If we hadn’t been put under so much pressure, I think Sainz and I could have shown even more pace. That being said, this strategy was always part of our plan. Initially to stop Pierre Gasly, but then of course Hadjar took his place.” Gasly dropped out in the first round after a collision with Yuki Tsunoda. “All in all, we can be very satisfied,” concluded the Williams driver.
