In a surprising turn at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, Alexander Albon of Williams Racing concluded the race in 12th place, marking his first non-scoring finish of the season. This outcome was influenced by a series of events that began during the qualifying sessions.
During Q1, Albon was initially eliminated in 16th position. However, it was later revealed that Nico Hülkenberg of Sauber had exceeded track limits at Turn 11, a violation that should have invalidated his lap time. The deletion of Hülkenberg’s time occurred after Q2 had commenced, preventing Albon from advancing to the next session. This delay prompted Williams to seek clarification from the FIA, resulting in a rare apology from the governing body.
Starting from 15th on the grid, Albon faced the challenge of navigating through a competitive midfield. Despite a consistent performance, he was unable to break into the top ten, finishing just behind Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. This result ended Albon’s streak of points finishes in the 2025 season, leaving him with 18 points and maintaining his 8th position in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
The Bahrain Grand Prix highlighted the fine margins that can influence race outcomes in Formula 1. For Albon and Williams Racing, the focus will now shift to analyzing the events of the weekend and preparing for the upcoming races, aiming to return to point-scoring form.