Sainz's podium finish in Azerbaijan demonstrates that Williams F1 is moving in the correct direction.

      Kym Illman via Getty Images

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      The Azerbaijan GP race weekend kicked off with a misleading sense of predictability: McLaren was almost guaranteed to secure the Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championship with seven races remaining in the 2025 season, and one of the team's two drivers was likely to take the top spot on the podium by Sunday.

      The top three finishers were expected to mirror the trend of most races this season—predominantly orange with a touch of Red Bull navy blue, Mercedes teal, or possibly Ferrari red. Similarly, the midfield and rear of the grid appeared to be predetermined. However, Baku's twisting street circuit did what it’s known for: causing chaos.

      The extended qualifying session was marked by a record six red flags, leading to an unpredictable outcome for the top three drivers. Max Verstappen secured pole position while Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson followed closely behind. Any hopes for a McLaren advantage were dashed when championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed into the wall at Turn 3, and Lando Norris could only manage a seventh-place qualifying position.

      Bryn Lennon

      Kym Illman

      Top: Bryn Lennon. Bottom: Kym Illman via Getty Images

      On Sunday, a tumultuous first lap threatened to overshadow the race’s narrative. Nevertheless, a streak of blue, firmly positioned in unfamiliar territory near the front, captured viewers' attention. Sainz's Williams clung to second place for the majority of the Azerbaijan GP. His third-place finish marked the Grove-based team's first podium since 2021, falling just short of George Russell in second and highlighting the promising prospects for Williams’ future.

      At this time last year, Alex Albon achieved his best race result in 2024: a seventh-place finish on the streets of Baku, with his then-teammate Franco Colapinto right behind in eighth. Despite the team’s continual remarks about a gleaming future filled with trophies, the points gained in Azerbaijan last season were largely seen as an anomaly. They concluded the season in second-to-last place, with only 17 points to their name. Albon, despite occasionally flashing speed, had six DNFs and one DNS throughout 2024.

      Thus, when Sainz announced his transfer to Williams for the 2025 season, the bright future the once-dominant team envisioned began to seem more realistic rather than just hopeful. However, Sainz crashed on the opening lap in the first race of the season. Compared to his teammate, the former Ferrari driver has struggled this season, averaging a finishing position of 12.58—counting DNFs and DNSs as 20th—while Albon's average stands at 10.29.

      It was Albon, with a more consistent pace and better point-scoring results, who appeared poised for a podium finish in 2025. Following Sunday’s race, fans took to social media to lament the perceived injustice of Sainz taking to the podium while Albon finished in 13th. Yet, even Albon's most dedicated supporters had little grounds to argue against Sainz. After all, it’s always uplifting to see an underdog, cast aside by a prestigious team like Italy’s prancing horse, succeed.

      “This victory means even more considering that just a year ago, I committed to Williams, believing in the project and the team's potential,” stated the 31-year-old Spanish driver.

      Jakub Porzycki via Getty Images

      Williams is all too familiar with the harsh realities of elite racing. The team celebrated nine titles in the sport before their winning streak turned into a struggle. As one of the last family-owned teams, Williams has historically faced financial difficulties, which exacerbated their performance issues, especially against well-funded teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes. Williams last reached the podium in Azerbaijan in 2017, and subsequent seasons saw them steadily decline in the standings, remaining towards the back for the next seven years.

      Yet amid the chaos and crashes, it seems the racing gods have finally smiled upon the team’s unique resilience: achieving success through hard work and a team principal who believes in their potential.

      “I believe life has taught me that sometimes you go through misfortune or bad performances, but if you keep working diligently, life occasionally rewards you unexpectedly with something wonderful like this,” Sainz remarked after the celebration.

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