Alex Albon Stands Firm on Williams’ ‘Angry’ Monaco GP Tactic

Alex Albon defended Williams after their team tactics drew attention at the Monaco Grand Prix. The race on the tight Monaco streets became a showcase for unusual strategy, as Williams searched for a way to bring home points in difficult circumstances.

Forced to adapt to the new two-stop mandate for the race, Albon and Carlos Sainz found themselves trapped behind Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls car, which was being used to manage pace and help teammate Isack Hadjar secure a strong finish.

Once Hadjar’s strategy played out, Williams responded with similar tactics to protect their own race, with Sainz backing up the pack so Albon could complete his pit sequence without dropping out of points contention.

The move helped Williams achieve a ninth-place finish for Albon and tenth for Sainz. This result gave Williams a fifth double points finish of the season, and their fourth in a row.

It is the first time that Williams has claimed at least four consecutive double points results since the opening five races back in 2016. Following the race, Albon acknowledged that their method frustrated other drivers but said the team made the best of the situation they were given.

He shared that “it’s not how we want to go racing. We put on a bad show for everyone, and made a few drivers angry behind us.” But with the cars nearly as wide as the street and overtaking almost impossible, he felt the team made the most of the rules and circumstances.

Albon explained that Williams would have preferred to race normally, but when the Racing Bulls team set the tone with their strategy, Williams had no choice but to react in kind. He likened the field to a “peloton,” saying that Monaco often produces that effect when everyone plays a tactical waiting game for pit stops, rather than racing flat out.

Despite the processional nature of the race, he said maximizing points was always the aim, no matter if the race playbook required one, two, or even four stops.

The tactics used by Williams and others created a major talking point across the paddock. Some drivers voiced frustration at how blocking tactics and intentional slow paces changed the feel of the race. More on the broader paddock fallout can be found in the coverage of Williams Monaco GP woes.

However, for Williams, the end result was positive: more points in the championship fight and a place inside the top five teams in the standings. After eight completed rounds, Williams sits fifth in the F1 constructors’ table with 54 points.

Elsewhere, discussion swirled about changes that could make the Monaco race more exciting for fans and fairer for drivers. Alternative ideas for the layout and rules are being considered to avoid similar races in the future, where strategy trumps speed on track.

Teams and fans have now turned their eyes to the Spanish Grand Prix, the next opportunity for Williams and others to show speed and innovation on a completely different circuit.

Albon’s openness about the Monaco tactics reflected the realities of modern F1, where every point counts and teams must adapt to new regulations and changing race conditions.

While he apologized to fans and drivers for the lack of pure racing, he remained focused on the results. Williams will be hoping their strategy continues to pay off as the calendar moves on from Monaco’s unique challenge.