Williams’ Fight for an Imola Podium Confirms That Alex Albon Was Correct All Along

      MARCO BERTORELLO

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      Around this time last year, Alex Albon was struggling with his royal blue Williams Formula 1 car, finishing two laps behind the rest of the competitors in Northern Italy. A problematic pit stop and wheel nut problem ended any hopes of scoring points, leading the Thai-British driver to retire to the garage.

      However, during yesterday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which was riddled with virtual safety cars, Albon achieved a different result. He crossed the finish line in fifth place. Although just shy of a podium, Albon’s fierce competition with two Ferrari cars in their home territory represents a promising shift for the underperforming team. It also underscores a narrative Albon has been sharing with F1 fans: Williams has a bright future.

      When the 25-year-old Albon joined Williams for the 2022 season, he accepted a seat that allowed him to stay in the sport after being dropped by Red Bull, but it came with the understanding that the team was not likely to win races anytime soon. Nonetheless, Albon and the Williams team sensed a potential that others overlooked.

      Founded in 1978, Williams Grand Prix Engineering experienced early success, winning its first race in England shortly thereafter. By the end of the 1980s, the team had secured both a World Drivers’ and a World Constructors’ Championship title. This success was repeated in 1992 with Nigel Mansell and in 1993 with Alain Prost. The 1990s proved fruitful for the team, which bagged five team titles and four driver championships, although marred by the tragic death of Ayrton Senna in a Williams car during the 1994 race in Imola.

      On Sunday, Albon tested his skills against top competitors: seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc, who placed fourth and sixth, respectively. The battle between the No. 23 Williams and Leclerc’s Ferrari served as a nostalgic reminder of the rivalry that had seen Williams decline in the early 2000s. Since the start of the new millennium, the team has been striving for a return to its former championship glory, a feat that now appears more achievable.

      When Carlos Sainz left Ferrari at the end of 2024 to make room for Hamilton, Williams was seen as a less favorable option. After all, the Spaniard was the lone non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023, finishing fifth in the driver standings and contending for the constructors' title alongside Leclerc.

      In contrast, Williams finished ninth in 2024 and struggled, not completing 20 out of 24 races due to crashes and other misfortunes. Albon’s performance in Imola in 2024 and then-teammate Logan Sargeant’s qualifying DNF were just a glimpse of the misfortunes that had haunted the British team in recent seasons.

      Sainz's joining of Williams injected new energy into the team under the leadership of principal James Vowles, who came on board in 2023. With two skilled drivers, a clear vision for the future, and additional investment, Williams has begun the 2025 season on a high note with 10 top-10 finishes.

      “The journey will take time, but I am confident we are building the right team to move forward and achieve great things in the years to come,” Albon stated in May after extending his contract.

      While the team is gradually progressing toward competing with McLarens and Max Verstappen's Red Bull, Albon's fifth-place finish still saw him lag nearly 20 seconds behind Verstappen, the race leader. Perhaps Williams’ aspirations for a long-term podium project may accelerate—though it’s potentially premature to conclude. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix offered Albon a moment of hope before he was unable to overtake both Ferraris and was nudged into the gravel by Leclerc before reclaiming his position.

      “It’s strange, isn’t it? From a race perspective, we were vying for P3 and P4,” Albon remarked after the race. “Back-to-back P5s and yet we’re leaving today a little disappointed, which feels odd to say…I was quite hopeful! I thought I might even challenge Oscar up ahead too.”

      Sainz secured eighth place and is currently ranked 11th in the standings, 19 points behind Albon as he acclimates to the new car.

      It’s more a question of when, not if, Williams will secure its first podium in five years. What commentators consider inevitable, Albon recognized as true years ago. “I’m ready. I’m ready to win races, to fight for a championship,” Albon declared at the end of the 2023 F1 season.

      Sainz, the anticipated star tasked with elevating a struggling team to title-contending status, may