While Williams celebrated their best result of the season so far, their two drivers were in very different moods.
Alexander Albon was positively jubilant about spending the entire race within sight of the podium. But Carlos Sainz Jnr was plainly unhappy that his team mate had passed him when he thought they had been told to hold position.After requesting help from his team mate, Sainz’s race engineer Gaetan Jego told him: “Alex has been instructed.” When Albon sailed past him at turn 11 moments later Sainz fumed: “You told me he’s been told.”
Jego could only repeat “I know” and tell his driver: “I know Let’s be the bigger one, okay?”
Sainz was still unhappy about the situation after the chequered flag and made his feelings clear to team principal James Vowles. But was Albon within his right to reclaim a position from his team mate after being passed earlier on? Here’s how the critical moments unfolded.
Albon and Sainz’s radio messages from their position swaps
“I touched with Alex”
“Remember what we discussed”
“Check front-right tyre quickly”
“What’s the plan here because we’re just losing time?”
“You told me he’s been told”
“You made me lose three-tenths extra”
“I’ve lost a lot of confidence here”
“I touched with Alex”
The race nearly came to a disappointingly early end for both drivers. Sainz had to take evasive action at turn three when Lando Norris rejoined the track ahead of him, and made contact with his team mate as Albon came around the outside.
Fortunately for the team, both drivers avoided serious damage, but both were immediately anxious over the state of their cars.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
| Lap: 1/57 ALB: 1’38.782, SAI: 1’39.731 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | Just check for damage, rear-right. | Sainz | I touched with Alex. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Tyres are okay, aero is okay. Looks okay from our side. | Sainz | Check front left. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | We’re checking, you’re good on front-left. Checking front wing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Need an update on the front wing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Happy. All good. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Pressures still okay. Front wing okay on our side. There’s a yellow flag, turn one, potentially debris. Potential debris, one, into turn one, turn four. Norris ahead 0.4, Leclerc behind 0.6. We’re still on the same race. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 2/57 ALB: 1’53.640, SAI: 1’55.407 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | Have a look over the pit wall, I’ll come close to you. | Sainz | I feel very low, low rear grip. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Yeah, copy that. Still VSC. Albon does not drive close to the pit wall as he passes |
Jego | VSC, VSC. Go AC, go AC. Stay out, stay out. Doohan stopped right hand side turn 14. Work the front and repeat your feedback, please. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Yeah I felt very low rear grip. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 3/57 ALB: 2’03.540, SAI: 2’01.936 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Doohan car is going behind the barrier now, I’ll let you know. Expect rain around lap 12, VSC ending, VSC ending. Go race, restart around braking zone turn 17. It’s okay for the restart. Restart, restart, DRS enabled. Norris 0.6, Leclerc 1.2. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
“Remember what we discussed”
Having dropped behind Albon at the start, Sainz’s race engineer reminded him about a pre-race agreement relating to whichever of their cars was running behind the other. Exactly what that referred to was only implied by this radio message, but shortly afterwards, Sainz passed Albon:
| Lap: 4/57 ALB: 1’33.079, SAI: 1’32.521 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Alex first car ahead 0.8. Remember that’s our race. Second car, remember what we discussed this morning. Leclerc 1.2. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 5/57 ALB: 1’33.836, SAI: 1’32.332 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | Are we sure we don’t have damage? | Jego | On that rain it will hit turn 17 first. Sainz passes Albon approaching turn 11 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Looks okay on our side. We took photos from the pit wall. Sainz passes Albon approaching turn 11 |
Jego | No overtake available. Gap at 0.9, Norris ahead 0.9. with DRS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Suggest green three-10. Feedback on what you feel, try and help. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | I feel oversteer, understeer. Honestly, not really that clear to me. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 6/57 ALB: 1’33.206, SAI: 1’33.317 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Closing lap five. 52 to go… | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Interrupting Less radio Gaetan. Leave it to me, please. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“Check front-right tyre quickly”
A day earlier, Sainz had taken himself out of the sprint race by hitting the barrier at the inside of turn 14. He flirted with danger again in the grand prix, clipping the wall at turn 12, but this time he got away with it:
| Lap: 7/57 ALB: 1’32.982, SAI: 1’33.029 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Sainz appears to glance the barrier on the inside at the exit of turn 12 Check front-right tyre quickly. Front-right, check. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Front right currently okay, pressure’s okay. Remember Russell ahead on hard. Still happy with the front wing. Front-right pressure’s still okay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 8/57 ALB: 1’33.117, SAI: 1’33.230 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Closing lap seven, 50 to go. Pressures are okay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 11/57 ALB: 1’33.569, SAI: 1’33.652 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | Closing on Sainz Early overtake available. Does not have DRS. |
Jego | Sainz closes on Russell at turn 17 Don’t have any other overtake available. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Russell moving under braking. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Okay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“What’s the plan here because we’re just losing time?”
While Albon started the race on a new set of medium tyres, Sainz was running a used set, as Williams fitted his last fresh set during the sprint race in an apparent error. Sainz dropped back from George Russell after lap 10 and Albon drew within range.
That prompted messages from both drivers. Albon asked his team what they planned to do next, clearly wondering whether a position swap was on the cards, while Sainz implied they should hold position.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
| Lap: 12/57 ALB: 1’33.515, SAI: 1’33.379 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | We’re going to get low in the pack. | Sainz | Starts defending from Albon Let’s go forward, guys. We’re compromised in the race here. Let’s get into our rhythm. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | Looks at Sainz at turn 11, who defends Can we just wait because… |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Yeah, let’s get the pack back… | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | We’re losing battery here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Yeah, copy, pack’s low. Leclerc 0.8 behind. Try and get the anti where we can. Radio’s on. Yeah, copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 13/57 ALB: 1’33.031, SAI: 1’33.044 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | What’s the plan here because we’re just losing time? | Jego | Agreed, and being discussed. Closing lap 12, 45 to go. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Yeah I’m working on it, and on the weather as well. | Jego | Alex 0.7. Russell last lap 32.8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Feedback on tyres and flap. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Yeah, my front-right is obviously down on grip. But the rest of the tyres are fine, it’s just the front-right. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Feedback on flap when you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | I could do with a bit of help from Alex. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
“You told me he’s been told”
To Sainz’s obvious frustration, Albon passed him soon afterwards. Moments earlier, the team warned Albon he was concerned about his water pressure, but moving into clearer air ahead of his team mate seemed to alleviate the issue.
Sainz’s race engineer tried to placate his obviously unimpressed driver.
| Lap: 14/57 ALB: 1’32.701, SAI: 1’33.614 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Alright, Alex, we’re managing a water pressure issue with you. You need to maintain a gap of at least a second for the car ahead, short term. | Jego | You are mode six level. Alex has been instructed. Gap 0.5. Russell last lap, 32.8. Rain is slowing down, may miss us. Albon passes Sainz at turn 11 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | I’m about to overtake him, so… | Sainz | You told me he’s been told. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Okay, come on then. Albon passes Sainz at turn 11 |
Jego | Okay. Let’s have head down. Use DRS, Leclerc one. Be clever. 44 to go. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 15/57 ALB: 1’32.968, SAI: 1’33.538 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Clever. Stay within DRS, please. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Yeah but come on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | I know, I know. I know, I know. Let’s be the bigger one, okay? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Leclerc one-zero without DRS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Mode seven and use anti as you are within DRS to recharge. Mode seven and use anti. Leclerc 1.1, no DRS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“You made me lose three-tenths extra”
Sainz’s frustration grew after he cut the turn 14-15 chicane in front of Charles Leclerc. While he felt he backed off sufficiently to avoid a penalty, Jego pressed him to give up more time:
| Lap: 16/57 SAI: 1’32.915 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Sainz cuts the chicane at turn 14-15 Leclerc 1.8, I think he made a mistake, his last lap 33.4. Russell still in 32.8. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 17/57 SAI: 1’32.857 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | ‘Track limit, first strike, then 15, one-five, turn 15 track limit first strike. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Leclerc 1.8, closing lap 17, 40 to go. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 18/57 SAI: 1’33.257 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Okay Carlos, can you please lose three tenths to your gap to Leclerc following that cutting the chicane. Leclerc gap 1.8, let’s bring that back to 1.5 please. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Yeah, I backed off at the exit of 16 when I cut 15. The stewards should look at it. But I’m doing a big [lift and coast]. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | We’d like to do more. Lose another three tenths in that section, please. Three tenths. Leclerc currently, 1.9. You have the pace to stay ahead. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | Okay now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Gap 1.6, gap 1.6, thank you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | You made me lose three-tenths extra. I already backed off in 16. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 19/57 SAI: 1’32.546 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Leclerc, 1.8, you’re quicker than him, it was 33.0. Alex, 32.6. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sainz impressively got ahead of Leclerc after the Ferrari driver appeared ahead of him following a Virtual Safety Car period. But he lost the place – and another to – Lewis Hamilton – after a further VSC period.
Go ad-free for just £1 per month
>> Find out more and sign up
| Lap: 29/57 SAI: 2’05.347 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | As close to the delta as possible, Leclerc pit under VSC. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sainz | He will come out ahead, no? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Safety car ending, restart, exit of turn 17, go ‘race’ now, get ready for restart, all the pace you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Go ‘race’, go ‘race’, green green green green, go ‘race’. Leclerc emerges from the pits ahead of him. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 30/57 SAI: 1’31.546 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | More energy. Sainz passes Leclerc on the inside of turn one |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 31/57 SAI: 1’32.773 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jego | Leclerc 0.6, turn on the pack. It’s only to turn 11. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
“I’ve lost a lot of confidence here”
Williams team principal James Vowles congratulated Albon on his second fifth-place finish of the year. However he also indicated to Sainz he understood his concerns about how the team handled the race.
| Chequered flag | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Alright there buddy, P5, lovely job. | Sainz | He moved a bit under braking there, I don’t know if that is legal. He completely moved left when I went left. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | Go on! Yes! | Jego | P9 for you Alex P5. Was good to see us fighting Ferrari and Antonelli. I know we were expecting to, hoping to, finish better but that was a strong race. A lot of things to learn. Some things to discuss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urwin | Makes up for yesterday. Mega P5 today. | Sainz | That’s not how I go racing, guys. I don’t care. I’ve lost a lot of confidence here on everything. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | Yeah sorry about yesterday guys. What a way to come back. Well done. | Vowles | Yeah Carlos noted. We’ll discuss this in the room but I agree with you we need proper engagement on it. For the time being well done for picking up points. You had damage to the car we’ll take you through but well done for recovering as much as possible. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vowles | Alex, really, really impressive drive. This is just making amends. We’ve got a fast car, we’re moving forward. We win and lose together. Really proud of you today. You were the fastest car on track, I think, for the last few laps, so brilliant, brilliant stint. Well done. | Sainz | Thank you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Albon | Yep, well done everyone. I don’t know the last time I’ve seen the podium from a full race stick before, so thank you, we’re progressing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a daily email with all our latest stories - and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:
2025 Miami Grand Prix
- Nothing for Ferrari to learn from Miami team orders episode – Vasseur
- Hamilton proud of Ferrari as ‘we’re taking a beating from media and people’s comments’
- McLaren legality never in doubt says Piastri as FIA’s post-race check clears car
- Albon did not disobey team orders in Miami says Vowles after Sainz’s complaint
- McLaren score their most emphatic win since Hamilton’s 2008 Silverstone triumph
Ben
6th May 2025, 16:31
No, it reminds me of Albons pathetic “ they race me so hard” comments a while ago.
This is F1. Grow up or speed up.
This is especially funny considering his mad last lap dive bomb on Hamilton. One of the dirtiest overtakes I’ve seen in recent races.
Alonslow
6th May 2025, 17:16
+1, It seems Sainz wanted a Schumacher number one status and to Albon to move over, overall he has been really dissapointing this year and unless he gets better I see Williams keeping Albon and dropping Sainz as soon a young driver is available.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
6th May 2025, 18:01
Wow what a bed wetter. From being intimidated by Bottas. Bottas !!! To dive bombing Lewis and expecting a red carpet, to this. To be fair he has a point but be comes across as a bit of an old woman im afraid
The Dolphins
6th May 2025, 18:21
There will be no more “Singapore plan”
roadrunner (@roadrunner)
6th May 2025, 21:06
Not at Williams anymore but maybe at Alpine now?
Patrick (@paeschli)
7th May 2025, 6:57
Albon’s stock rising by the day. Shows you can be the n°1 driver even when you’re n°2 on your teams’ payroll.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
7th May 2025, 8:59
If Albon could overtake the same car on merit, that genrally means that pace difference that driver has is huge. And Albon pulled a masive gap on Sainz and finished many places ahead. If Albon did not go against the team and had stayed behind Sainz the whole time, I think they had little chance of getting any higher than P7 & P8 (and this is a high estimate) and getting 10 points rather than 12. What Albon did there in this instance was correct. And I don’t think he could have avoided the contact with Sainz at the start if I’m honest unless he just didn’t bother to go round the outside.
Bruno Alves
7th May 2025, 12:28
That’s Carlos Sainz as a teammate, driving erratically all weekend and them trying to poison the environment of the team after one of the best results for years with his baseless complaints. Granted, the comments of his race engineer and even James Vowles on the radio were very disappointing also.
What did Sainz expected, for Albon to be slowing down because he supposedly had damage? Completely insane, especially when withou the VSC Albon showed pace good enough to fight even for a P4.
Albon needs to be very aware to avoid Sainz taking over the team that Alex has been carrying since 2022.
jpvalverde85 (@jpvalverde85)
7th May 2025, 17:40
Poor show by Sainz, looking frustated by the lackluster results and the Williams ways. He has to build his stock by himself rather than asking the other driver to concede, he wasn’t on the same pace and had some limitations dealing with the strategy due to his used set of Mediums at the start, he was somewhat quick but maybe killed too early his tyres, and after the stop he lost pace to Alex being both on the Hard compound, that was it, he’s doing better race after race but still lacking.
Jan Sayer
8th May 2025, 12:02
The other replies are crazy. Sainz kept pace despite damage from the early contact with Albon, was still able to overtake Albon on used vs new tyres. But sure, Albon had “pace difference”. Gaetan eluded to pre race agreements which suggests that Albon should not have overtaken Sainz at the race start. However I think the second overtake attempt was fair as Williams gave the team order to drop back from Sainz when he was too close. Sainz is justified in to ask for team orders considering he compromised his own race in Jeddah to help tow Alex but once again he does not get rewarded for being the team player and does not get support when his car is in the more precarious position, so he is also justified in being upset. Gaetan could also work on providing more clarity on the radio. Even if Albon did overtake Sainz, the team, knowing Sainz’s car had damage (but they had not told Sainz yet), could have asked him to tow Sainz to make up for the aero loss from the damage. Then, it is unfair to say Albon had better pace than Sainz on their hard stint since Williams gave Sainz a mid-slow 2.9s stop that released him behind Hulkenberg, where he had to push on cold tyres to overtake, and caused him to be overcut by Leclerc, and he had to fight to take his place back. Whereas Albon came out from his stop in a more fortuitous position and had mostly clean air until he overtook Antonelli. While P5 is a good result for Albon, the team could have done more to support Sainz and realistically gotten P6+7, which is 14 points, more than the 12 they got. As for people claiming Sainz’s overtake attempt on Hamilton was a “dive bomb”, I must simply assume they only started watching F1 recently, or are simply in a cult fanbase, as there are precedents where stewards ruled the car ahead could also foresee the car coming up the inside, hence giving it as a racing incident. It doesn’t surprise me they ruled again as such.