Williams Team Principal James Vowles has said he feels a “responsibility” to grant Alex Albon a title-contending Formula 1 car amid his choice to renew his contract.
Williams announced on Wednesday that Albon had put pen to paper on a multi-year extension to keep him with the team through F1’s next regulation change in 2026.
Albon has emerged as a credible team leader since arriving at Williams in 2022 and contributed to all but one of the side’s 28-point haul last term as it rose to seventh.
While it has been unable to maintain recent momentum with zero points from the opening six rounds, Williams is undertaking a mass restructuring behind the scenes.
Vowles has pushed owners Dorilton Capital to invest in the team’s outdated facilities as he bids to put down the building blocks that can transcend Williams’ fortunes.
And Vowles, who took over at the helm 15 months ago, has insisted that ensuring the Anglo-Thai driver is delivered a car capable of fighting at the front is a core aim.
“I want to produce you a championship-winning car,” Vowles told Albon in a chat between the pair to discuss the driver’s contract renewal.
“This team wants to produce that as well. That’s a serious goal. It sounds fluffy, but it’s a serious goal. What’s more is I feel a personal responsibility towards you.
“You have a peak in your career. You’ll be in it for a while, but you have a peak in it. You’re coming into it. That’s as simple as that.
“My responsibility is, whilst you’re there, we have to give you the best equipment possible.
“That’s what I like about this multi-year journey. It’s because it’s not about the now anymore. It’s about how do we put you on our shoulders, walk with pride, and give you every opportunity.
“Doing this is a huge vote of confidence for the team. You saw the reaction downstairs. That’s good. That’s a better reaction than when I joined!”
Albon hopes that dispelling doubts regarding his future and pledging his faith in the team’s ambition to return to the top will provide increased motivation to Williams.
“I definitely can see that,” Albon responded. “I felt like we talked about it. I know we’ve really only put pen to paper not so long ago.
“In the process, it’s been about trying to use this as a shift to everyone, to try to motivate everyone, and to really realize that I’m hoping.
“The fact that I believe in this team, to everyone at the factory, that’s a reason in itself to realize that we all can do this.
“I feel like I’m hoping I can give that reassurance in some ways to everyone to know that I believe this journey, so you should too.”
