Albon changing perceptions: ‘I think I’ve surprised people’

Alex Albon says his performances this season in F1 have likely “surprised” parts of the paddock, especially in light of the strong benchmark presented by his new Williams teammate Carlos Sainz.

In a world where reputations are forged and questioned with every lap, Albon has emerged as a revelation of sorts in 2025.

The Anglo-Thai racer has not only held his own but has outshone Sainz – a multiple Grand Prix winner –with standout performances that have defied expectations, proving he’s more than just a driver who thrives against lesser competition.

A Chance to Prove Himself

Speaking on F1’s most recent Beyond the Grid podcast, Albon reflected on how public and internal perceptions of his talent may be shifting.

“Yes, I do [think they are],” Albon said. “It was easy to dismiss me for my teammates. That was an easy scapegoat to say, ‘Well, he’s doing well, but we don’t know how to quantify him as a driver’.”

The 29-year-old, who joined Williams in 2022, admitted he welcomed the challenge of having a proven talent like Sainz join him at the team – not just for the development benefits, but also as a reference point to measure his own growth.

“When James [Vowles, team principal] spoke to me early on about Carlos joining, I was in two positive mindsets,” he explained.

“The first one was, he’s going to be a huge asset to the team with all his experience and him being a quick driver.

“The second was, I feel like he’s a credible reference that I can go into, and I genuinely want to see how I stack up against a driver like Carlos.

“I was confident in who I was, but I think I maybe have surprised some of the paddock. But I don’t think the people that know were surprised – this sounds a bit arrogant – but internally in Williams, or the ones I’ve driven for in the past.”

Style vs. Adaptability

While Sainz has openly spoken about the difficulty of adapting to Williams’ car characteristics after years in the Ferrari system, Albon believes his longer tenure with the team gives him an edge in understanding – and compensating for – the FW47’s quirks.

“We know each other’s styles quite well,” Albon added. “The main difference we’ve had is that I have a driving style where I drive around some of the car limitations. I think that’s come from a lot of years of driving the Williams car and accepting it.

“I think Carlos is more, ‘I want to drive like this, and you guys have got to give me this’. But in the same context, we’re still talking about the same things. I would say that’s the nuance between us.”

Albon's comments reflect a subtle but meaningful distinction in approach: where Sainz pushes for changes to suit his style, Albon focuses on adapting to what's available – a mindset shaped by his experience in underperforming machinery.

Until now, Albon’s talents have often been evaluated through the lens of past teammates – some underwhelming, such as Nicholas Latifi and Logan Sargeant, and others unproven, like Franco Colapinto, who only briefly pressured Albon during the latter part of 2024.

But Sainz, a race winner and a highly respected driver, provides Albon with his most credible yardstick yet.

Read also:

• Sainz: Williams setbacks ‘stressing the system’ for 2026

By thriving in the current context, Albon may be rewriting the narrative that followed him post-Red Bull. A driver who was once seen as an uncertain prospect is increasingly being viewed as a resilient, adaptable talent – one capable of leading a team in its rebuilding phase.

And in a paddock where reputations can shift as quickly as lap times, Albon’s quietly impressive 2025 campaign could be one of the season’s most compelling redemption arcs.

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