A strong performance from Williams in the first F1 practice session of the season saw new recruit Carlos Sainz finishing in P2 and Alex Albon in P6 ahead of the Australian GP. However, while team principal James Vowles believes the team has put in good work over the winter, there’s still some progress to be made.
Gearing up for tough competition
Speaking during Friday’s press conference, Vowles praised the team’s efforts, but it’s evident that they are keeping both feet firmly planted on the ground going into the weekend.
“We’ve done a good job, there’s no doubt about it, and Carlos is in a great state. With Alex, we didn’t have a great session due to an issue around the brakes and we didn’t give him a great session as a result of things. But we also have to be realistic,” he said.
There’s still room for ambition, though. Vowles expressed that while there are some clear front runners going into the first race of the season, he believes that the teams have never been closer than they are this year.
“The top four giants of the sport now, and that includes McLaren in that. I’d love to say we’ll break into that, but that’s not the reality of where we are today. Our job is to make sure we keep progressing. I think you’re going to see the field as the closest it’s ever been, and it’d be great to be scratching on that door, being irritating from time to time,” he said.
He added: “There are some great things happening back in Grove and there will be more coming online over the next few years. You can see it in individuals, it’s just building momentum and positive energy. What you see today is just a little bit of a fallout from that.
“As Fred [Vasseur] described, this is FP1. It’s great, nice to see, but it’s FP1. Let’s wait until qualifying, the race, and a few races in. That’s also why I’ll bring everyone to our future and the destination we’re going towards.”
Teamwork makes the dream work
Alex Albon reflected this positive energy in his comments in his print media session on Thursday, stating that this year’s car had certainly achieved some quicker lap times than the previous one, contributing to a confidence boost.
Despite this, Vowles was reluctant to suggest that the car is significantly faster than last season.
“First of all, I think we need to reassess where the car has moved to, based on a few things, but it’s about where we expected it to be,” he said. “What Alex was talking about is that from a driving perspective, it gives them a lot more confidence than last year’s car.”
That’s not to say vast improvements haven’t been made, though. Vowles asserted that the team has taken a step closer to bringing together the full package.
“The Mercedes rear suspension helps a tiny bit, but what we’ve done over the last few years – developing our tools and systems to produce better vehicle dynamics, better aero, and a better way of combining the car together – is all coming together now.
“That’s what makes the package better. It’s really not one area; it’s a combination of a team that’s starting to get stronger by working together.”
Sainz looking strong
Going into his first race weekend with Williams, Carlos Sainz put in an impressive performance in FP1, finishing just 0.146sec shy of Lando Norris, who topped the timesheets. And it seems his lengthy F1 experience has been just as beneficial off-track as it is on-track.
“First of all, he’s been to a number of organisations, so he understands different elements and he’s been across a number of drivers we would all consider world championship material. That’s made him into the driver he is today,” said Vowles.
“His ability to communicate what’s going on in the car is fantastic, his ability to understand what’s going on in the team around him and how to bring them forward, what excellence looks like, what winning looks like, and how to elevate our state from where we are is his strength.”
