Carlos Sainz’s podium progress at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix has marked a significant milestone for Williams, demonstrating important advancement but not yet signaling that the team can consistently challenge for race wins next season. The event took place at the Baku circuit, where Sainz’s third-place finish was a hopeful sign amid ongoing development efforts.
Williams Leadership Calls for Measured Expectations After Podium
Williams team principal James Vowles described the podium as a positive indicator of progress, but emphasized the demanding nature of climbing the Formula 1 grid. Speaking during the team’s post-race review, Vowles outlined both optimism and realism about Williams’s future prospects, stressing that the journey toward regular front-running performance remains long and complex.
I think what I’ve said all the way along is some positives and negatives for everyone to acknowledge,
Vowles said.
I’m confident that we as Williams will step forward every year going forward from here onwards. That’s important to know.
He continued by noting the team’s planned investments and pathway forward, but also cautioned that much work remains:
We’re on a good pathway. We’re investing in a good way. There’s a but… We still have a long way to go.
He reminded observers of the challenge ahead:
This is one podium and the giants out there are able to get on the podium every week and win races and we have a long way to go before we’re able to achieve that. And in one year, we won’t fix everything that we need to fix.
Vowles asked fans and followers for continued support:
But my ask of you is stay with us. I hope what everyone can see is we’re on the right journey. Trust the process. And there’s a lot of good things to come. But be by Williams’s side when it happens.
Sainz Delivers Williams’ First Podium in Years Amidst Race Chaos
At the Baku Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz secured third place behind race winner Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver George Russell. This achievement stood out as Williams’s first podium finish since the rain-shortened Belgian Grand Prix in 2021, and only its second full-distance podium since Lance Stroll’s third place in Baku in 2017.
After starting from the front row, Sainz maintained a composed and error-free race while turmoil unfolded behind him, enabling him to defend third against Russell’s challenges. The Spaniard earned 15 championship points, contributing a vital haul for Williams, while teammate Alex Albon finished down in 13th amid a difficult race.
Reflecting on the podium, Sainz expressed his elation:
Honestly, I cannot describe how happy I am or how good this feels,
he shared.
It tastes even better than the first-ever podium that I did.
The driver celebrated his team’s perseverance and consistency throughout the season:
We’ve been fighting hard all year and, finally today, we just proved that when we have the speed. We’ve had it all year, and when everything comes together, we can do some amazing things together.
He added,
We nailed the race – not one mistake, and we managed to beat a lot of cars that, yesterday, I wasn’t expecting to beat.
Williams Eyes Structural Growth Ahead of Key Regulation Changes
The 2024 season is viewed by Williams as a foundational year, serving as a bridge toward greater competitiveness aligned with upcoming regulatory shifts. James Vowles has frequently described this period as focused on building infrastructure, refining processes, and increasing investment to create sustainable success.
This podium finish supplies both a tangible reward and a morale boost for the Grove-based team, reaffirming that its efforts can yield significant moments even within a challenging campaign. While Williams acknowledges that it has not yet closed the gap to top teams like Red Bull or Mercedes, the recent result signals progress and encourages hopeful supporters to remain invested in the team’s ongoing evolution.
