Albon reveals proudest achievement of 2025 season with Williams

The 2025 Formula 1 season was nothing short of a rebirth for Williams Racing, and at the heart of their resurgence was the ever-resilient Alex Albon.

After years of scrapping for the odd point at the back of the pack, the Grove-based outfit transformed into a genuine midfield powerhouse, ultimately clinching a sensational P5 in the Constructors’ Championship with a haul of 137 points.

While the year was packed with highlights, Albon has now singled out the moment that stands above the rest. Surprisingly, it wasn't a late-season surge, but the very first time the lights went out in Melbourne.

The Australian ‘Surprise’ That Set the Tone

Coming off a 2024 campaign where the team languished in ninth place with a mere 17 points, expectations for the season opener at Albert Park were measured.

However, Albon signaled the team's intent early by sticking his FW47 into P6 on the grid. In a chaotic race defined by erratic weather and Safety Car interventions, Albon kept his head to cross the line in P4 (later adjusted to P5 after Kimi Antonelli’s penalty was rescinded).

When asked in Abu Dhabi earlier this month what he was most proud of this season, the 29-year-old immediately circled back to that whirlwind weekend down under.

“I would say the first race of the year. It's kind of a bit obvious in many ways, but that was my best result for the team,” he revealed, quoted by F1.com

The result didn't just provide points; it provided belief.

“It happened in race one, it was a surprise for all of us heading into the first race of the year and it just seems to have created this amazing start to the season,” Albon explained.

“I remember – I think I was P4 on track at the time – thinking, ‘Well, this is never going to happen again’, and then in the end it happened a few more times.”

A Culture of No Ego

While Albon’s individual brilliance was clear, he is the first to credit Williams’ structural overhaul led by team principal James Vowles. Since arriving in 2023, Vowles has been on a mission to modernize the historic squad, and Albon believes the fruits of that labor are finally visible.

“I think the culture in the team. James has huge credit for that,” Albon said.

“It feels like there's really an openness within our team now, a willingness to learn, to improve. There's no ego in the team as well. I can't speak for other teams, but I think that's a really powerful thing to have.”

That harmony was tested as the season progressed. While Albon dominated the early stages, his high-profile new teammate Carlos Sainz found his feet later in the year, grabbing two podiums as Albon faced a tougher second half.

Despite the internal shift in momentum, the Anglo-Thai driver remains energized by the team's trajectory.

“It's positive, the energy is great and that's really what's driving this team forward,” he noted.

Building for the Big Leagues

Finishing fifth in the standings is a milestone that has been years in the making for Williams, and Albon views it as a foundation rather than a ceiling.

He is acutely aware that while they have climbed the mountain of the midfield, the "Big Three" remain a significant distance away.

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“I feel like I still had an amazing year for most of it,” Albon concluded. “It feels like it's not been overnight, it's been four years in the making this P5 and it's showing the signs of us becoming a top team.”

Looking toward 2026 and beyond, Albon is keeping his feet on the ground but his eyes on the prize.

“There's still many more years ahead of us,” he concluded. “I think the gap between P10-P5 is smaller than the gap between P5-P1 in terms of performance and where we want to be, but very proud of the team, proud of myself and ready for next year.”

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