Sainz has already completed his first test with the team, as he stepped out of his Ferrari and straight into a Williams just two days after the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP, and he finished second on the timesheets — just a tenth behind Lando Norris‘ McLaren.
“It’s an important time for the team and we are all going to push to bring Williams back to the front of the grid as soon as possible,” said Sainz . “I was very impressed with the team back in Abu Dhabi.
“After a long year, it was great to watch the motivation and effort that everyone put in at such an important test. Thanks to that, we’ve been able to put together a solid plan and we have already started working on it to make sure we are as prepared as possible ahead of the pre-season test and first race.
“Launching on February 14 should be a great way to start an important year for us as a team, fighting as hard as we can with both cars from the outset this year and looking forward to opportunities ahead in 2026,” added Albon. “I can’t wait to see the results of the teamwork and dedication that makes this team so special.”
Williams 2024 driver line-up
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| Alex Albon | Carlos Sainz |
- Alex Albon signed new contract in 2024, keeping him with the team until at least 2026
- Carlos Sainz joins the team in 2025, replacing Logan Sargeant/Franco Colapinto
Key personnel
Team principal: James Vowles
James Vowles led a resurgent effort by Williams in 2023
Qian Jun/MB Media vs Getty Images
Ahead of a move to Williams in 2023, much of James’ Vowles F1 career had been spent at Brackley — first with Honda, then with Brawn and then with Mercedes.
He joined the former in 2006 as an engineer, before being promoted to a race strategist position with Brawn and Jenson Button in 2009. Championship success put Vowles name in the spotlight for the first time and continued success with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton after Mercedes takeover in 2010 ensured his position in the team for years to come.
But ahead of the 2023 campaign, Vowels yearned for more responsibility and with Toto Wolff remaining in firm control as the team principal at Mercedes, the empty position at Williams proved too good an opportunity to miss.
“It’s an honour to join a team with such an incredibly rich heritage,” said Vowles upon joining the team. “The team is an icon of our sport, one I greatly respect, and I am very much looking forward to the challenge.”
45 races later, Vowles has continued to build upon his reputation as a lead cog in a machine of success.
Chief Technical Officer: Pat Fry
Williams’ Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry joined from Alpine in 2023
Grand Prix Photo
With over 20 years of top tier F1 experience, Pat Fry was a major mid-season addition to Williams after joining from Alpine after the Belgian Grand Prix.
His career began with Benetton in 1987, where he worked on active suspension while serving as a race engineer. Six years later he joined McLaren, where he continued to share his expertise on active suspension until it was banned for 1994 and he was once again moved back into a race engineer role before becoming chief engineer for the 2005, 2007 and 2009 seasons.
In 2010 he moved to Ferrari where he undertook several roles: first acting as a assistant technical director, then as the head of trackside engineering and then director of chassis.
A brief return to McLaren and a consultancy role at Manor preceded a full-time return to the sport with Alpine in 2019.