Williams enjoyed their most successful years in Formula 1 during the 1990s, securing five Constructors' Championships and earning widespread recognition as a dominant force in the sport.

Nowadays, the situation is quite different for the British stable. The team seems almost invisible, sitting ninth in the Constructors' standings with just 16 points, while celebrating occasional point finishes as a success.

However, Williams has an ace up its sleeve, having secured experienced three-time F1 race winner Carlos Sainz for the 2025 season after Lewis Hamilton took his seat at Ferrari.

The Team Principal, James Vowles, has highlighted the advantage the team will have next season with Carlos Sainz behind the wheel.

“In ’25, I think we will have the best driver lineup on the grid,” said Vowles on the Beyond the Grid Podcast.

“I mean, Franco’s doing a brilliant job. What he doesn’t have is the experience that Carlos will come with, but he’s doing an outstanding job.

“I think from the perspective of not just driving the car, but leading the team forward, we’ll have the best line-up on the grid. That will help motivate and push us forward.”

He also has explained the reasoning behind his opinion.

“That’s my opinion of it,” he continued.

“And I’ll explain some of the reasons behind it to a certain extent.

“A, they’re both performing at a very high level. I mean, Carlos has driven against all of the drivers we’ve just discussed.  Against Lando, he was successful.

“Against Charles, up and down. But he’s there or thereabouts. There’s hardly anything between those two drivers.  Against Max, in that first year in Toro Rosso, [he] was exceptional against him.

“So it’s not that he hasn’t been challenged throughout his career. He’s been challenged all the way through and held his own.  But it’s not just that that I’m basing it on. It’s not in the car, it’s out the car.

“In the short space of time that I’ve got to know him properly, he drives the team forward. He wants to spend every minute of his time that he can do to make this team more and more successful.  And that’s a combination that is not necessarily available up and down the grid.

“What I mean by that is not just getting the car. That’s not my job. My job is I want this to be a successful organisation.

“Tell me what more we can do.  And that’s what I’m looking forward to. And Alex is built the same way.”

Williams hopes that by putting this talented duo together, they can close the gap to the front-runners and bring back the proud history of one of F1’s most famous teams.