“That could be our run over” Williams' rivals could catch up as its focus shifts to 2026

Williams racer Alex Albon is having a great start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, picking up points at four out of five grands prix. Now, the Thai driver says his team is making the most of its current form, as it knows that an advantage doesn’t usually last forever. 

The British squad is currently in the midst of its best start to an F1 season in almost a decade. Williams is sitting comfortably in fifth in the constructors’ standings with 25 points to its name, with Albon picking up 20 of those and managing a best finish of fifth at the Australian Grand Prix.  

“I want to be realistic, I think I've always been consistent – if I'm being totally honest and possibly egotistical about it,” said Albon after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.   

“I think our car's always been quite peaky and I've always felt that my performances have been consistent since I've joined Williams. It's maybe being highlighted now that we have a consistent car every weekend, I can do consistent performances. That's what it feels like to me.”  

Success can be short-lived in F1, however, and Albon says his team is fighting for every point it can manage in the early stages of the 2025 season. That’s because while the Grove squad may have a strong car right now, it is committing the majority of its resources to F1’s clean slate in 2026, so is unlikely to bring many upgrades to the track this year.  

There may not be many upgrades to the Williams F1 challenger during the 2025 season

Photo by: Lars Baron - Motorsport Images

“We have to be quite realistic,” says Albon. “We don't know what everyone's doing in terms of priority for next year. We've gone off to a hot start, which kind of changes the dynamic of how well we want to do this season, or sacrifice next season.” 

Team principal James Vowles repeatedly committed to sacrificing the 2025 season if it means getting the best start possible on F1’s new rules in 2026. The incoming regulations require a complete overhaul from the teams as new power units come to the track and complex new aerodynamics will dictate the shapes of next year’s machinery.  

While Albon is confident that Williams has “one of the strongest midfield cars” on the grid right now, he remains wary of his rivals – who may not be putting all their eggs in the 2026 basket.  

"We want to make a big step for next year," Albon says. "Now is the time to score points, really. With a good start, we have to score points every weekend. We don't know when the next midfield team is going to bring an upgrade and, when they do, that could be our run over.” 

Another factor that could help keep Williams' current run of form alive is F1's calendar. The series has already crammed five races into six weeks, and there’s just one weekend off before F1 heads to Miami for the next grand prix of the season.

Albon called the 2025 calendar “relentless” as there are so many races in such a short amount of time, but admitted that the quick turnaround between events could very well play into Williams’ hands.  

"A lot of teams haven't bought an upgrade yet so far this year, and we're making use of that,” Albon says. “Because of how tightly grouped these first few races are, when you start with a good car in race one, you can carry that for a few races, which is why it's so important.”