2023 was a big season for the Williams Racing team. They signed Motorsport Strategy Director James Vowels as their team principal. This appointment brought much improvement on the track. Williams Racing finished with 28 points and seventh in the constructors championship. In 2022 they finished last and only recorded eight points.
This improvement was again expected in 2024 but halfway through the season Williams Racing hasn’t come close to the heights they reached in 2023.
Alex Albon was seen as one of the breakout stars of 2023. He scored 27 of their 28 points in 2023. He finished in the top 10 on seven occasions. After Lewis Hamilton signed a two year contract with Ferrari, Albon was seen as one of the drivers that could take the vacant Mercedes drive.
Yet 2024 hasn’t gone to plan for Albon or the Williams team. Williams have only recorded fours points and two top positions this season.
During the third race in Melbourne, Albon crashed out in the first practice on Friday. The team didn’t bring a spare chassis to the Albert Park track and were down to one car for the rest of the weekend. Williams Racing decided to put Albon into his teammate Logan Sargeant’s car. Sargeant had to sit out the rest of the weekend.
Sargeant has been with Williams Racing since the start of the 2023. He has spent most of the season at the back of the grid but did finish 10th at Austin.
Sargeant has continued to struggle in 2024. He finished 11th at Silverstone in the British Grand Prix but has finished 17th or lower eight time and failed to finish on two occasions.
In March Albon signed a multi year contract extension with Williams but Sargeant contract has not been extended.
On the 30th of July Williams Racing announced they had signed Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz for the next two seasons with an option to extend. Sainz contract wasn’t renewed for 2025 after Ferrari signed Hamilton. Sainz has won three grand prix’s including this years Australian Grand Prix and has been on the podium 23 times. This year Sainz sits in 5th in the constructors championship.
On the Williams website Vowels said he is excited to have Sainz for 2025 and beyond.
“Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement of intent for both parties. Carlos has demonstrated time and time again that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with race winning pedigree.”
As of writing this Sargeant will remain with Williams for the next race at the Netherlands.
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