Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has made a thrilling prediction for Williams under James Vowles after Carlos Sainz secured the team’s first podium in four seasons at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Williams were confident going into the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but would never have expected just how well the weekend would go.
Team principal James Vowles’ heart would have sunk when the first of six red flags in qualifying came out as a result of Alex Albon hitting the inside of turn one.
Carnage reigned down in Baku over the next two hours, only for Carlos Sainz to emerge in second alongside Max Verstappen for Sunday’s race.
| RANK | DRIVER | TEAM | POINTS |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 25 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 18 |
| 3 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 15 |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 12 |
| 5 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 10 |
| 6 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 8 |
| 7 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 6 |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 4 |
| 9 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 2 |
| 10 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1 |
George Russell achieved Williams’ most recent podium, but that was due to a wet weekend in Spa that saw a mixed-up grid and a race that lasted just a single lap.
Sainz had no such luxury and after 51 laps in Baku, took the chequered flag in third.
Russell was quick to congratulate Sainz, and he joined Alain Prost as the only other driver in F1 history to finish on the podium for Williams, McLaren and Ferrari.
Vowles took to social media after the race to congratulate, and former Williams driver Jenson Button made an exciting prediction for the team’s future under his guidance.
READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties
Jenson Button predicts ‘many’ more podiums for Williams under James Vowles after Carlos Sainz joy
Vowles posted on Instagram after the race and said: “I’ve been fortunate to have a few podiums in my career, but this is one I’ll remember forever.
“We earned this together as a team – a team that, in recent years, has been at the back, fighting just to survive, and now has battled its way back into this position.
“Carlos delivered a phenomenal race — an exceptional drive from start to finish, and a joy to watch. You could see and hear just how much it meant to him.
“I believe in positive momentum, and this gives Carlos a real foundation to build on. With Alex, sometimes you just have those days.
“He absolutely had the pace — we’ve seen it all weekend — but after that early incident in Qualifying, it was always going to be difficult. Still, he fought back and finished close to the points.
“For now, I can’t wait to get back to the factory on Monday with the trophy and feel the roof come off the place.
“This result is a reward for the incredible dedication of the entire workforce, who give so much of their lives to this team.”
Button commented underneath Vowles’ post and said: “Congrats on your first (of many I’m sure) Podium as a TP.”
Which drivers have the most podiums for Williams in Formula 1 history?
In Williams’ F1 history, 78 drivers have raced for the team, and Sainz became the 26th person to finish on the podium for Vowles’ outfit.
He matched Russell’s tally of one podium, as well as Pastor Maldonado and Lance Stroll, who was the last driver to finish in the top three for Williams in a full-length race.
Nigel Mansell holds the record for most podiums secured with Williams, managing 43 during his 95 Grand Prix starts with the team.
| DRIVER | RACES | PODIUMS |
| Nigel Mansell | 95 | 43 |
| Damon Hill | 65 | 40 |
| Riccardo Patrese | 81 | 24 |
| Juan-Pablo Montoya | 68 | 23 |
| Alan Jones | 60 | 22 |
| Nelson Piquet | 31 | 21 |
| Jacques Villeneuve | 49 | 21 |
| Ralf Schumacher | 94 | 21 |
| Carlos Reutemann | 31 | 16 |
| Keke Rosberg | 62 | 15 |
Damon Hill (40) and Riccardo Patrese (24) are next on the list, with Juan-Pablo Montoya (23) and Alan Jones (22) rounding out the top five.
Three drivers are level on 21 podiums, although Nelson Piquet’s record of reaching that number in just 31 Grand Prix is exceptional compared to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher.
Mansell once suggested Williams ‘torpedoed’ his chance of winning the 1988 championship as rumours emerged of him joining Ferrari.
Ferrari haven’t completely ruled out Sainz returning one day, and he’ll be hoping that if that move is on the cards and he wants to go back, Williams won’t sabotage his efforts.