In a stunning turn of events at the recent Formula 1 race in Baku, Carlos Sainz delivered a remarkable performance, clinching a podium finish that has revitalized Williams Racing’s prospects. After qualifying in second position, Sainz maintained his strong pace to finish third, marking Williams’ first podium since 2017 and pushing their Constructor’s Championship points beyond triple digits for the first time since 2016. This significant achievement highlights both Sainz’s skill and Williams’ evolving competitiveness.
Sainz Reflects on a Career-Defining Podium Moment
Carlos Sainz expressed immense satisfaction following his hard-fought podium finish in Baku, describing it as one of the most meaningful milestones in his career. Battling closely with Kimi Antonelli, a Mercedes rookie, Sainz showcased resilience and determination throughout the race.
“Honestly I can not describe how happy I am and how good this feels. It’s even better than my first ever podium. We’ve been fighting hard all year and finally today we proved that when we have the speed… we’ve had it all year… and everything comes together, we can do some amazing things together. Today we nailed the race. We managed to beat a lot of cars that yesterday I wasn’t expecting to beat.”Carlos Sainz, Williams, P3
Despite a competitive car, Sainz had struggled earlier in the season to convert strong qualifying performances into point-scoring finishes, with his last points prior to Baku earned at the Canadian Grand Prix in June.
“We’ve proven to everyone the massive step that we’ve taken compared to last year. We are on the rise. We are [going] the right direction. Unfortunately, with me, we’ve had a lot of bad luck and incidents making it difficult to turn all of that pace into results. Now, I understand why it all happened. It’s just life.”Carlos Sainz, Williams, P3
Williams Racing’s Significant Progress This Season
The 2025 Williams car has steadily brought the team back into the spotlight, establishing them as strong contenders within the mid-field pack. Although Williams had not previously been able to battle for podiums this season, their recent performance in Baku affirms their upward trajectory.
For Sainz, who joined Williams this season and has been competing alongside seasoned teammate Alex Albon, this podium felt like a culmination of growing synergy between driver, team, and machine. Albon has demonstrated consistency by scoring points in 11 of the 17 races so far, in contrast to only three points in the same period last year. This collective effort has propelled Williams into a solid fifth place in the World Constructor’s Championship standings.
James Vowles, who became Williams’ Team Principal in 2023, celebrated his first podium as a team leader, recognizing the milestone amid the team’s rebuilding efforts.
“Extraordinary. I’ve had a lot of podiums in my career, but this one will stay with me forever. It means a huge amount for me from where the team was on our journey to where we are going. Carlos earned it today. This wasn’t luck, this was him driving his socks off all weekend.”James Vowles, Williams Team Principal
During the race, Vowles admitted to some nerves about defending against the Mercedes drivers but emphasized that beyond immediate results, building confidence and maintaining momentum for both Sainz and Albon remain essential objectives for the team.
Looking Forward: Williams’ Pursuit of Growth and Consistency
Williams is dedicating its efforts to refining its performance, with particular attention on tire management and improving qualifying lap times to maximize their race weekend potential. Despite Albon finishing outside the points in Baku, the team’s overall weekend was their most successful in nearly a decade, creating a positive outlook for the remaining seven races of the season.
As Williams capitalizes on the momentum from this landmark podium, the team aims not only to solidify their fifth-place position but also to attract increased funding and testing opportunities that come with on-track success. The performance in Baku serves as a turning point, signaling that Williams is well on its way to reclaiming relevance and competitiveness in Formula 1’s highly contested field.
