Steiner: Williams' Baku Podium is a 'Long Road' from Top Contention

Former team principal Guenther Steiner hailed Carlos Sainz's podium finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as a 'rockstar' performance, marking Williams' first podium in four years. However, Steiner cautioned that despite this success, Williams still faces a significant journey to consistently challenge Formula 1's top four teams, labeling the result an "outlier."

Why it matters:

Williams' recent podium at Baku, their first in four years, offers a glimpse of hope but also highlights the chasm between midfield success and true front-running contention. Guenther Steiner's perspective underscores the immense challenge smaller teams face in breaking into the elite, even after a standout performance.

The Details:

• Sainz's 'Rockstar' Performance: Guenther Steiner, in The Red Flags Podcast, praised Carlos Sainz's drive, calling him his 'rockstar of the week' for a "pretty secure P2 qualifying" and a flawless race. Sainz's smooth operation brought home Williams' first podium in four years at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
• Outlier, Not a Trend: Despite the celebration, Steiner views this podium as an "outlier." He believes Williams is currently the "fifth best team" on the grid, with a considerable gap separating them from the top four.
  • "The step to being in the top four is still big. It's not there, it's still a long way to go."
• P5 Contenders: Steiner identifies only Racing Bulls as a potential challenger to Williams for the fifth spot in the constructors' standings. He notes that Williams has carved out a clear space for themselves, leaving other teams significantly behind.
• Vowles' Leadership: This podium also marked a significant milestone for Team Principal James Vowles, who joined Williams from Mercedes. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff offered humorous yet sincere praise for Vowles, crediting him as a "great contributor" to the team's success and long-term vision.
  • Wolff emphasized that "Everybody delivered (in Baku). The driver delivered, the pit stops were good. Overall it's a trajectory that I enjoy seeing with him and for the team."

What's next:

While the Baku podium is a morale booster for Williams, the focus now shifts to whether the team can build on this success and consistently improve. The challenge remains for James Vowles and his team to translate isolated strong performances into sustained competitiveness. The journey to close the gap with the top teams will be arduous, requiring continued investment, development, and strategic execution to move beyond being a 'fifth best team' and into regular podium contention.