Albon: Sainz's struggles could help improve Williams' speed.

      "You find yourself caught in a trap after years of muscle memory."

      Alex Albon has come to the defense of his Williams teammate, who has been finding it challenging to keep up so far in 2025. Many were taken aback to see Carlos Sainz, after his switch from Ferrari during the winter, consistently lagging behind as the slower driver in the Williams team. "If you expect to see the best of Carlos Sainz in a Williams by the third race and in a new car, then you clearly don’t understand the sport well," the Spaniard expressed in Bahrain.

      When questioned about his difficulties, he acknowledged that he is still approaching the new car as though it were a Ferrari. "You fall into a trap after years of muscle memory of doing everything that way," Sainz noted. "However, considering how new everything is, being within the same tenth in qualifying as a driver like Alex isn’t a bad position for me."

      Instead of feeling superior, Albon, who is now in his fourth year with the Grove-based team, believes that Williams can actually gain from Sainz's Ferrari "habits." "It's fascinating to discuss these matters with Carlos, as these are habits he's developed, which aren’t necessarily negative Ferrari habits," he remarked. "They are beneficial habits, and it's about figuring out how we can adapt them for our car."

      "There are currently certain corners I’m referencing that we aren’t able to navigate, and he may need to adjust the driving style he’s accustomed to," Albon added. "But ultimately, these changes will make the car faster."

      "As a team, we are effectively considering everything and comprehending what he’s communicating. While it may be a challenging fix for this year, for next year, we can focus on specific areas to enhance the car."