A podium four years in the making
Williams’ return to the Formula 1 podium in Baku, delivered by Carlos Sainz in third place, capped a breakthrough weekend for the Grove team. Starting from the front row and executing a mature drive, Sainz secured his maiden podium for Williams and the team’s first top-three finish in four years.
Vowles’ leadership earns plaudits—and a playful note
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff sent Williams boss James Vowles a tongue-in-cheek gift after the race, attached with the message: “Lucky bastard! Congrats on your first podium as a TP.” Wolff later clarified the quip as jovial praise, adding that Vowles has been a “great contributor” to Williams’ resurgence, with driver, pit stops and operational execution all delivering on the day.
Vowles, who worked closely with Wolff at Mercedes before taking the Williams helm, hailed Sainz’s relentless pace and error-free weekend: “Just an exceptional drive by him… We knew Mercedes was quick, but well done to him. He didn’t put a foot wrong all weekend.”
A lighter touch: Sainz’s ‘unicorn’ weekend
Amid the serious step forward, there was room for levity. A playful behind-the-scenes tale of “sparkles, sprinkles and a podium”—a so-called “unicorn secret”—added a whimsical twist to Sainz’s standout result. It underlined a buoyant atmosphere inside Williams as the team climbs back toward the front.
The competitive context
Even with George Russell’s Mercedes ultimately beating Sainz to second, the Williams package looked composed and quick across the weekend. For a team rebuilding its competitive foundations, this podium feels less like a one-off and more like a milestone on an upward trajectory.
