Williams in the News: On Track in Barcelona

There’s nothing quite like the sound of a Formula 1 car firing up to signal the start of a new season. That’s exactly what Williams Racing experienced in Barcelona, as the team hit the track for two days of TPC [Testing of Previous Car] running.

With Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz both getting valuable mileage in the FW45, plus success in London and a commitment to the future, here’s what’s been making headlines in recent days.

Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz took to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday and Monday, marking Williams Racing’s first TPC event of the year.

As covered by Motorsport Weekly, these crucial laps are helping the team ramp up preparations for the 2025 season.

For Sainz, this was his second time behind the wheel of a Williams car, following his FW46 outing at post-season testing in Abu Dhabi.

Carlos Sainz is already making his mark at Grove, according to Team Principal James Vowles.

Speaking at the Autosport Awards last week, Vowles praised the four-time Grand Prix winner’s immediate impact.

“You could see from the moment he jumped in the car in Abu Dhabi, his mind switched,” he said.

“This is where he wants to be, this is what he wants to do. He's part of our success story. He's fitting in perfectly.”

Williams Racing celebrated a double victory at The Race Media Awards 2025, held at Plaisterers' Hall in London.

The team took home two prestigious awards: Best Live Experience for the Williams Racing Fan Zones (in partnership with Kraken and FanCapital) and Creative Content of the Year for the Michelob ULTRA Lap of Legends virtual race.

Reflecting on the achievement, Commercial Director James Bower shared his pride:

"We’re proud to have been recognised for all the hard work that our team and partners put into these award-winning projects, and we look forward to creating many more unforgettable moments for our fans.”

Williams Racing is investing in the next generation. At the Autosport Awards, James Vowles introduced the first 10 members of the Komatsu-Williams Engineering Academy – a key initiative in shaping future talent.

Speaking on stage at London’s Roundhouse, Vowles emphasized the importance of early careers:

“Fundamentally, it's about investing in future generations. Early careers are fundamental to Williams.

“Over 10 percent of our organisation is early careers. So there's around 120 to 130 individuals within our team that are all early careers, and it's about the long-term investment in success.