Steiner views Williams Baku podium with Sainz as ‘an outlier’

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Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has offered a measured perspective on Carlos Sainz’s remarkable podium with Williams at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, suggesting the result was more a one-off than a signal of sustained success.

Sainz secured third place at the Baku City Circuit after starting second on the grid, marking his first podium since joining Williams and the team’s first under new leadership from James Vowles.

While the achievement has been widely celebrated, Steiner believes it does not reflect a major shift in the team’s competitive standing.

“No, I think it's an outlier,” Steiner said on The Red Flags Podcast. “Obviously, they had an opportunity, and they took it. But they are now, in my opinion, clearly the fifth-best team, but the step to being the top four is still big.

"At the moment, they're not there. Still a long way to go, but I would say the only ones which at the moment can get somehow near them is Racing Bulls, all the other ones they left behind.

"And obviously, Williams sometimes have a bad race. But in general, if you take the average [result], just look at how many points they've got.

“They are the fifth-best team at the moment. Now that picture becomes very clear, so they don't have to worry about not finishing fifth.”

A Clear Gap to the Leaders

Steiner emphasized that while Williams has carved out a strong position in the midfield, challenging the sport’s top four outfits remains a distant goal.

“Obviously, they look backwards to Racing Bulls, because Racing Bulls has been strong the last races,” the Italian added.

“But Williams cannot challenge the top four. They are quite a bit away from them, but they made their own space in the championship in P5 pretty clear.”

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Steiner: Horner ‘eager’ to return to F1 but not with Alpine

With seven rounds remaining in the season, Steiner’s assessment suggests that while Williams’ podium was a memorable highlight, the team will likely continue to fight for midfield supremacy rather than competing for the championship.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.