Albon rejects Sainz’s ‘Ferrari habits’ claim: ‘They’re good to have’

Alex Albon says he disagrees with the claims made by his new Williams teammate Carlos Sainz, who recently suggested that he needs to unlearn the entrenched habits he developed during his four-year stint at Ferrari.

Albon suggests the Spaniard’s tendencies are perhaps “good habits to have," as they may be exploited by Williams.

The Grove-based outfit is currently fifth in F1’s Constructors’ standings, having amassed 19 points in the opening three rounds of its campaign – surpassing the team’s entire 2024 total.

Albon Backs Sainz’s Ferrari Skills

Speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Albon reframed Sainz’s self-critique as a potential asset, suggesting the Spaniard’s Ferrari-honed techniques could enhance Williams’ performance.

"It's interesting to speak to Carlos about these things because these habits that he's learned, they're not necessarily bad habits from Ferrari,” he said.

“They're good habits to have, and it's trying to see if we can use them in our car.

"At the minute, there are some corners like I spoke about, which we can't do, and he maybe has to default to a different driving style that he's used to. Inevitably, they're going to make the car quicker though.

"So, I think as a team we're very good at taking everything on board and understanding what he's saying and [it] might be a difficult solution to fix for this year, but for next year, have priorities in certain areas to have a better car for next year."

Expanding the FW47's Window

Reflecting on Williams’ productive start to 2025, Albon believes the FW47 has more to offer despite its challenging setup.

"Yes, to be quick with this car, it needs a certain setup, and it's not always the most comfortable setup," he noted.

"It was clear there's a couple of corners on each track that we go to that we are relatively weak, compared to the midfield.

"I think we're producing good downforce. We're just struggling with balance in a few corners, but to fix the corners means we normally have to compromise the rest of the lap, so it makes it quite a [narrow] window that we are in most weekends.

That's not new, and we've had that for many years. That's the trade that we make weekend to weekend, track to track. When there are less trades, like Melbourne, we're quick. When there are a bit more trades, like China, maybe we struggle a little bit more."

Vowles Predicts Quick Adaptation for Sainz

Team principal James Vowles, meanwhile, expresses strong confidence in Sainz’s ability to adapt swiftly, dismissing any notion that unlearning Ferrari habits will delay his progress.

Speaking during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, he set an ambitious timeline.

"I'd be shocked if he needs five races,” he said. “The way he operates, the way he thinks, the way he works, I know how he adapts his driving style. He won't need that long. He'll be on the money you'll see pretty quickly."

Vowles highlighted the technical differences between Ferrari and Williams, noting Albon’s prior adaptation as a benchmark.

"Ferrari allows you to combine a lot more on the front axle, our cars just not so much and actually, Alex has just organically driven around it or learned to drive around it in the last few years," he says.

"The good news is I think you saw Carlos here was near enough on the money again, he was in testing, he wasn't at the track. So we've found something, I just want to make sure it translates through to qualifying before we say anything more."

With Williams enjoying a points-scoring run in every race so far this season, Albon’s support for Sainz’s Ferrari habits and Vowles’ belief in his rapid adjustment signal a team ready to capitalize on their combined expertise.

As the FW47’s strengths and limitations come into focus, Sainz’s integration could prove pivotal –
if he can align his skills with its narrow operating window.

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