Alex Albon “angry” after Dutch qualifying as he pinpoints “main issue” for Williams

Williams driver Alex Albon lamented a drop in tyre temperature during qualifying for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, claiming that he could have progressed into Q3 had he not run into this issue. 

Albon is set to start the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort from 15th on the grid. His team-mate Carlos Sainz managed to get into Q3 and will start from ninth.

“I think in every lap we’ve done this weekend, when we’ve been on track, we’ve been in the top 10 most of the time,” the Thai-British driver explained to the media.

“We were quite comfortably in the top 10 in Q1, and we were quite comfortably in the top 10 in Q2 run one. And then basically when we came out the garage there was a… I must have been waiting for about two and a half minutes to get out the pitlane.

“And then by the time we got out of the pitlane, all the people that came out the pitlane before were on their push laps. So then you do a slow out-lap because you have to let all the cars pass who are on the push lap. By the time that happens, you go into Turn 1 and the tyres are absolutely nowhere. You cannot do anything honestly. 

“We know we’re on the back foot in terms of our window. To get the tyres to work is narrower than other teams. I think you see that Carlos was struggling in Q1. I was okay in Q1, and then we’ve seen it in so many tracks we’ve gone to this year so far. If we don’t get our clean out-lap, we’re nowhere. I think our out-lap is normally around this track, so far this weekend, has been about 10-15 seconds a lap quicker than the people around us.

“And my Q2 run two out-lap was maybe 20-25 seconds slower than my normal out-lap. So you can imagine that normally doesn’t go well when you go into Turn 1.

Alex Albon, Williams

Photo by: Joe Portlock / LAT Images via Getty Images

“It’s just frustrating because it doesn’t make it easy. It doesn’t make it easy for us in many ways because obviously, I’m angry in the moment. But as a strategist, when your window is a bit smaller than everyone else’s, to get the clean air and to get the right space on track is very difficult. And I feel for us. I think we basically need to figure out the tyres first. That’s the main issue and then everything else will come easier. That’s where the frustration is.”

The Williams driver believed that Q3 was possible for him on Saturday.

“Carlos has been good all weekend. And I think that’s where the car is. I’m pretty confident I would be in Q3 if I didn’t have the cold tyres for the Q2 run. That’s just how it is.”

Photos from Dutch GP – Practice & Qualifying