In line with their recent contract extensions, let's look at the best races that Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz Jr have driven in a Williams uniform.
Williams might be struggling with their performance this season, but their drivers still believe in their vision. In the days leading up to the 2026 F1 Dutch Grand Prix, both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz Jr. have agreed on respective contract extensions with Williams.
Albon's new Williams extension is reportedly confirmed for the 2027 season, while Sainz's deal is framed as a multi-year contract.
Albon and Sainz joined forces last year, when the latter signed with Williams after four productive years at Ferrari. The pairing worked immediately, as they totalled 137 points, placing the team P5 in the Constructors' Championship. Essentially, Williams was the best midfield team in 2025.
However, the team hasn't nailed the new 2026 regulations. Williams has only scored 11 points through 11 races, placing them just ahead of Aston Martin and Cadillac for P9.
They might not have any memorable races this season due to the car's faltering performance (so far), but Albon and Sainz have given Williams several great moments in the recent past.
5. Alex Albon, P7, 2023 Canadian Grand Prix
Albon started his 2023 campaign on a good note, finishing P10 in Bahrain. But a couple of DNFs followed right after, then four more zero-point finishes in the next races.
But the Thai-British driver would bounce back in Canada. Williams committed to a one-stop strategy in the race, and Albon displayed his tyre whispering skills. Despite his aging tyres, Albon held off a train of faster cars to finish P7. His heroics earned him a Driver of the Day award.
4. Alex Albon, P5, 2025 Australian Grand Prix
Albon pointed to his P5 finish in the Australian GP as his best moment in 2025. With Sainz regarded as the new benchmark for Williams, Albon was under pressure to perform in the season-opening race.
Albon didn't buckle from the pressure, qualifying sixth on Saturday. It was Sainz who ended his race early after spinning into the barriers on Lap 1.
With superb team strategy in a chaotic wet race, Albon crossed the line P5, finishing almost 13 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris.
3. Alex Albon, P5, 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Again, Albon seemed like he was outperforming the Williams machinery, going toe to toe with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at one point. Albon finished in P5, but had there been no Safety Car late in the race, he had a genuine shot at a fourth-place finish.
2. Carlos Sainz, P3, 2025 Qatar Grand Prix
Sainz started the race in seventh place, made an excellent launch to reach fifth, and benefitted from a strong Williams pit stop under the Safety Car to jump Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli. Even more impressively, Sainz developed a problem late in the race that caused significant understeer, yet still held on for third.
Sainz displayed his signature adaptability, with his podium finish helping Williams secure P5 in the Constructors' Championship.
1. Carlos Sainz, P3, 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Williams brought in Sainz for his racecraft and speed, and he flaunted those characteristics in Baku. With Albon failing to advance to Q2 on Saturday, Sainz made a strong statement by finishing qualifying in P2.
But rather than fading backwards against theoretically faster machinery, Sainz finished P3, behind Max Verstappen and George Russell.
It was Williams' first Grand Prix podium since 2021 and their first podium in a conventional full-distance dry race since 2017.
