This year you'll become the driver with the most starts ever for Williams, cementing your legacy with the team. How does it feel entering this new era as one of the more experienced drivers on the grid, and knowing that you're going to be part of the history books with Williams?

Alex Albon: It does feel strange to be thinking of myself as the longest driver in Williams. Maybe that's partly down to how many races we do, but still, I think it just shows how much I believe in the team. I think it shows that I've been a part of this journey from the very beginning, and I still believe in it, so that's why I'm here.

As you've mentioned, you've been a key part of the team's rebuild over the last few seasons. How satisfying is it to see the role that you've played in the work that goes on behind the scenes coming together in this 2026 car?
AA: Looking back, I feel like 2025 was our strongest year yet, and it's great to see how every year we've just gone from strength to strength. I think that this year it's no secret it's going to be a big challenge. I think the test of having a new PU as well as a new car itself is putting a lot of stress on all teams. I'll be interested to see where we come out. I think it's going to be less tight than it was last year, but at the same time, I'm interested to see the progress we've made as a team.

How confident are you in the direction that Williams is heading in? You mentioned your belief in the project. What gives you the belief that progress is being made?
AA: I think that the belief that I have is more just from what I see back at Grove. I think the changes that James is making at the factory, the culture in the team and the way that it's shifting, it's all going in the right direction and it's what I believe the team needs to be like to become a championship winning team in the future. We're still in our growing phase and there's still many years ahead of us but we're on the right path.

You and Carlos begin your second season together as teammates. How has your relationship developed? And how do you see the two of you working together to push the team forward under these new regulations?
AA: Carlos and I, obviously, it's our second year now and with that comes more experience, more knowledge of each other as well. The communication that we have and the areas, I would say that it's more that Carlos has an understanding of what areas the team need to grow in, and I think that as we spend more time, we're more and more aligned on the areas that we want the team to focus on. I do think it's quite rare, the position that we have as a team, we've got two drivers that are fairly experienced - one doing the most races for Williams and the other one who's spent a lot of races in general in Formula 1. I think, as a combination, it allows us to really focus on the development of the car and the team, which I think will be important for the year ahead.

You and Carlos last season secured P5 in the Constructors Championship, a really strong result after years of rebuilding for Williams. What did that achievement mean to you, and more importantly, how do you make sure the team keeps pushing forward?
AA: Personally, P5 in the Constructors Championship was great, but I think more than anything it was important for the team to feel it. It felt like a result where clearly a championship is not won over one race - it's all races combined where you have to be consistent. You have to deliver, when times are tough, when times are going well, and I feel like, as a year, that was a very complete year from the whole team. We've seen in previous years we've been quite a peaky team, not the most consistent and if anything, the P5 consolidated this feeling to the whole team that we're here now and we've got the right foundations to build on.

The 2026 regulations are one of the biggest resets in recent Formula 1 history. How are you approaching the challenge of adapting to this new style of car? What areas do you expect will require the most focus early in the season?
AA: Starting off this year, the preparation has already started, and to be honest with you, midway through last year we've been hard in the simulator, figuring out what kind of driving style we need. There's a huge element of adaptability for the driver and staying open minded. Everything that we've learned from previous years, we can't forget them, but we have to also be in a place mentally where we accept that it could be a totally different ballgame. And so, that's going to be interesting and there's a lot of discussions, a lot of meetings going ahead over this winter break to get us in the best place possible.

Looking ahead to this new chapter, what would you consider to be a successful 2026 season, both for yourself and for the team?
AA: A successful year will be progress, and I think we've established a good baseline in 2025. I think that we've established ourselves as the top midfield team and what I'm looking for is progress. The year is going to start wherever it starts and it's about the adaptability and the resilience to fight in what will inevitably be a catch-up game and to develop our rivals as quickly as we can. And if we finish the season closer than where we started, then we should be in good shape for next year.

Looking at your team kit for 2026 there's a host of new partners as the team has got Barclays, Claude, BNY, and several others. What does it mean to have the support from such globally renowned companies?
AA: In my opinion, it just shows there's belief in the team. I would have been one of the first ones to have said that, but to see huge partners come on board it just shows that it's not just myself and Carlos believing in this journey - it's, people from the outside as well. I think that we can use these partners as well to push us forward, and to help us develop even faster and lay down the foundations even stronger for years to come.