Vowles Backed His Drivers Through Difficult Winter

Williams Team Principal James Vowles has declared there is "zero doubt" in his mind that Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon are the pairing he wants in his cars for the foreseeable future. Despite a difficult start to the 2026 season, Vowles has moved quickly to silence any speculation about driver changes, emphasizing his complete faith in the current lineup.

"They are both hugely impressive because it was a tough winter," says Vowles. "I called them pretty much daily on here's where we are and here's what's changing. As it changed around us, I wanted to make sure they had awareness on it."

The Williams boss revealed that he kept his drivers informed about the team's struggles during the pre-season, describing it as "bad news stories that kept coming for weeks." However, he asked both Sainz and Albon to step up as leaders within the organization.

"My ask to them was: 'You are a leader of this organisation as I am, so make sure we pull together and directionally pull the team forward.' They were there by our sides all the way through and that's really important to me."

The Value of Experience Under Pressure

Both Sainz and Albon demonstrated their worth during Williams' challenging period, consistently delivering points when opportunities arose. Vowles highlighted their ability to perform when it counts, noting their strong showing in Miami and Shanghai earlier this season.

"What I enjoy about them is that every time we have had points to pick up – Miami or even before that Shanghai – they are there and ready to do it," Vowles stated. "They were asking the right questions and asking me: 'What else can I do?' That's a sign of the characters they are and the strength as they are as individuals."

Looking Ahead: Williams' Championship Roadmap

Despite the team's current eighth-place standing in the Constructors' Championship, Vowles remains steadfast in his long-term vision. The Williams principal set out an ambitious timeline for returning to championship contention.

"What we have always said is '28 is one of our big milestones, 2030 the second of those two milestones – and championships towards 2030," Vowles explained. "It doesn't change that direction of travel."

The team, which last won a world title in 1997, enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 season, with Sainz taking two unexpected podiums in the final third of the campaign to help Williams finish top of the midfield in P5 in the Teams' Championship.

While acknowledging the frustrations of the current season, Vowles remained optimistic about the team's trajectory: "It's a blip in the road. If you ignore it, you're in trouble. But if you use the fact of understanding of what went wrong and go back to the root cause of it, it's one of the most powerful things that can happen to you."

The Williams boss concluded with a clear message about the team's ambitions: "You will always get silly season but it's in our hands both today and in the next five years to demonstrate we have ability to put performance on the car that outstrips other teams and therefore earn their right to be here."