Williams kicked off the 2025 Formula 1 season on a high note, despite Carlos Sainz’s debut ending in disappointment with an early retirement.

After making the switch from Ferrari to Williams—following Lewis Hamilton’s move to Maranello—the Spaniard has fully embraced the ambitious vision set by team principal James Vowles. His goal is clear: to help re-establish Williams as a frontrunner in F1. Despite the team prioritizing its 2026 development to align with upcoming regulation changes, many within the paddock believe Williams has already made significant progress in 2025.

Carlos Sainz and his teammate, Alex Albon, demonstrated that improvement by securing sixth and 10th place on the grid for the Australian Grand Prix. This marked a major milestone, as it was the first time since 2005 that both Williams drivers reached Q3 in Melbourne.

However, the Spaniard’s race at the Albert Park circuit in Mebpurne didn’t go according to plan, as he lost control under the safety car in challenging conditions, crashing at the final corner. It was a frustrating debut, especially considering he had a strong chance to score points. Despite his misfortune, Williams still had reason to celebrate, with Alex Albon delivering an outstanding fifth-place finish.

Ferrari insiders believe Sainz’s technical expertise will drive Williams forward in 2025
Carlos Sainz’s transition into Williams has been seamless, impressing the team with his detailed feedback and setting the fastest lap on day two of pre-season testing in Bahrain. According to his father, Carlos Sainz Sr, the team values and acts on his input, ensuring a smooth adaptation process.

Williams engineers have already taken note of Carlos Sainz’s ability to enhance car development—a skill he previously demonstrated at Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari. Those within his former team believe he will bring the same impact to Williams.

Channel 10’s Tim McDonald shared insights from Ferrari insiders on the F1 Nation podcast, revealing that Sainz’s contributions could be pivotal in shaping a competitive 2025 season for Williams. He mentioned that he had spoken to a few people he knew at Ferrari, and they said that one of the reasons the Williams team is performing so well is due to Carlos Sainz’s contributions. According to them, his ability to work closely with engineers, demonstrated during his time at Ferrari, had always been valuable. They were not surprised to see Williams performing better now that Carlos Sainz was providing similar feedback. He also noted that Carlos Sainz would be a major factor in the team’s turnaround.

Williams fans will be thrilled to hear what Ferrari insiders are saying about Carlos Sainz’s impact on the team for the 2025 season. The Spaniard’s seamless integration into the squad, combined with his already evident influence, particularly in Melbourne, is expected to propel Williams into a competitive position for the remainder of the season.

Despite Carlos Sainz’s unfortunate retirement from the Australian Grand Prix, Williams demonstrated their true potential through Alex Albon’s impressive drive. The Thai driver was a challenging opponent for Lewis Hamilton, holding off the seven-time world champion for much of the race.

Alex Albon finished an outstanding fifth in Melbourne, behind Kimi Antonelli. He was briefly promoted to fourth place after Kimi Antonelli received a five-second penalty for an unsafe release during a pit stop, but the decision was later overturned by the Silver Arrows.

One of the key factors behind Alex Albon’s strong result was the support provided by his teammate, The former Ferrari driver, from the garage. The Spaniard played a crucial role in helping Albon with his strategy during the race, particularly when it came to switching to intermediate tyres as rain began to impact the track conditions. Carlos Sainz’s quick thinking and strategic input proved to be invaluable, making a decisive contribution to Albon’s performance in Australia.

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill praised Carlos Sainz as a ‘star’ for his strategic role in helping secure 10 valuable points for Williams in the opening race of the season. With just seven points behind their total from the entirety of the 2024 season, Williams is already showing promising signs of progress as they head into the Chinese Grand Prix.

The post Ferrari insiders reveal exciting praise for Carlos Sainz amid Williams’ 2025 F1 prospects appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Carlos Sainz, the new Williams driver and key figure in the debut of the FW47, has already made an impact within the team by introducing modifications to the steering wheel based on a solution used at Ferrari.

Thanks to his experience with a top team like Scuderia Ferrari, Carlos Sainz is a valuable asset for Williams. His technical expertise can provide the team with crucial insights gained over the years, helping them take a step forward in development.

The First Modifications to the Williams FW47 Steering Wheel

Beyond the know-how acquired at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz has already given a concrete sign of his significant influence within the team. During the filming day at Silverstone, images revealed a modification to the FW47’s steering wheel. The Spanish driver requested a change to the clutch paddle, now split and featuring a finger groove, exactly like the configuration used at Ferrari.

Team Principal James Vowles’ Comments

“His contribution has been immediate in certain areas. In particular, he works very well with Alex Albon, especially when it comes to control systems such as differential and brake maps,” explained Team Principal James Vowles.

Carlos Sainz is already proving to be a team player: his meticulous approach and analytical skills could be an added value for a team still striving for competitiveness. Moreover, he is the first experienced driver to join Williams after years of alternating young rookies, who struggled to make a significant contribution to the team’s growth.

“He has brought a completely new perspective. In the past, with Franco Colapinto, as talented as he was on track, we were the ones who had to teach him many things. Now, we have an experienced driver who has already won races, and this has elevated the entire team,” added James Vowles.

The steering wheel may seem like a minor detail, but it demonstrates how Carlos Sainz’s influence is already making a tangible impact, even in the most technical aspects of the new Williams.

Source: f1ingenerale

Source: f1ingenerale

Source: f1ingenerale

The post How Carlos Sainz’s new Williams steering wheel is inspired by Ferrari SF-24 appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Immediately after the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which he raced with Ferrari, Carlos Sainz got behind the wheel of the Williams for the post-season tests. These track sessions were crucial for the Grove-based team, allowing them to gather as much feedback as possible from Carlos while his knowledge of the Maranello team was still fresh.

One of the first aspects of the car—and according to Carlos Sainz, the most important one—that the Spaniard commented on was the engine. He spent four years powered by Ferrari’s power units, but now he will be using Mercedes power units once again.

It is a return to his roots, as the number 55 driver had already experienced the power of the German team’s unit during his time at McLaren.

Carlos Sainz’s impressions at Williams

The Spanish driver has changed teams several times throughout his F1 career. Before Williams, he raced for Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari, giving him the opportunity to work with all four engine manufacturers that have supplied power units in recent years.

Having experienced different engine suppliers, he highlighted the significant impact a power unit has on an F1 car. “The thing you notice the most when you switch teams is when a PU is involved.”

What changes when using a new PU? “The noises, the vibrations, the sound—everything changes completely,” Carlos explains. He went on to describe his first test, where he focused on understanding the car’s aerodynamics, tires, and mechanics.

However, he added: “The only thing I had to adapt to in the first few laps was just how different a power unit can be. That is probably the biggest change. Even the way the power unit works in terms of switches, especially in today’s Formula 1.” – the Spaniard pointed out.

“With so many things happening on our steering wheels—the implementation, the battery, things like that, engine safety procedures, and power unit procedures—it is definitely the biggest adjustment I’ve had to make so far at Williams.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.

The post Carlos Sainz at Williams after his Ferrari adventure: here’s the biggest change he has faced appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

As stated by Carlos Sainz himself, discussions with his new team have involved a lot of information coming from Scuderia Ferrari. Williams is in a growth phase, and having a top team as a reference point can be beneficial. Learning about Ferrari’s working methods and development philosophies could allow the historic British team to make significant progress.

Carlos Sainz’s arrival is essentially the next step in this direction. The Spaniard has vast experience, having raced for multiple teams and absorbed various car development approaches over the years. One key aspect is that he has improved the standings of every team he has raced for from the moment he joined to the time he left.

It will be interesting to see how he compares to his teammate, Alex Albon. There is also curiosity about where Williams will stand in terms of competitiveness. The launch of the FW47 has brought enthusiasm to the team, raising expectations compared to recent seasons. While 2025 is still a transitional year, it can serve as a strong foundation for the 2026 regulation changes.

Carlos Sainz’s Admission
Carlos Sainz himself confirmed in an interview that he shared some insights from his Ferrari experience with his new team: “I have a lot of things I can talk about regarding my previous life. The really important thing, and what I like about this team, is that they are extremely eager to listen to me. They listen and ask a lot of questions.”

“In every meeting I attend, everyone feels free to ask me questions, and these meetings have been going on for a long time. Every time, we go well beyond the scheduled hour. I see motivation, I see people who want to speed up the process as much as possible. They want to see what they can gain from my internal knowledge to make us as competitive as possible.” – the Spanish driver pointed out.

“Without getting too specific about what I can bring, because that would get too technical, I think everything I’ve shared has been applied. I believe we will soon see an impact. I also see that Alex is very open with me about the secrets of the 2024 car and the 2023 one we evolved from. This helps us combine feedback and find the right direction.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.

The post Carlos Sainz and the internal Ferrari information revealed to Williams appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

James Vowles, Williams team principal, continues to praise Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard was the driver chosen to debut the FW47 on Friday morning at Silverstone, providing initial feedback on Grove’s new car. This followed his first experience with the FW46 during post-season testing in Abu Dhabi after the 2024 finale, where he had already given insights on potential development areas.

James Vowles appreciated Carlos Sainz’s mechanical sensitivity, noting his precision in providing feedback on the car and shaping development work, bringing to Grove a methodology more aligned with a top team like Ferrari.

“His influence has been felt in several areas. First of all, he works very well with Alex [Albon], especially when we focus on control systems, such as differential maps, braking, starts, and all the surrounding elements of this crucial phase. Now we have an experienced race winner, and this will help the team grow. I can see a shift in our performance—where we were before and where we are today.”

These are not just words from James Vowles; a concrete example is the steering wheel. Over the years, Carlos has developed great attention to detail to maximize the functionality of controls.

An image captured before Carlos Sainz hit the track during the Silverstone filming day shows that the Madrid-born driver requested Williams to replicate the clutch paddles exactly as he used on the SF-24 last year.

Unlike his former teammate Charles Leclerc, who prefers a single long paddle for clutch release, Carlos Sainz insisted on using two paddles with a dual thimble system, allowing him to insert his fingers for a more precise clutch release when the lights go out at the start of a Grand Prix.

The post Williams: Carlos Sainz copies Ferrari steering wheel with two fingers appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

“We’ll be watching you in our rearview mirrors now that you’re Williams’ sponsor.” With this note sent to Martini, Ferrari’s management expressed their disappointment over the failed negotiations between Ferrari and Martini, which collapsed due to Williams’ intervention in securing the sponsorship for themselves. Claire Williams revealed this behind-the-scenes story.

“Ferrari was furious,” said Claire Williams—the daughter of Sir Frank and, at the time, team principal of the British team (this was in 2014)—as a guest on the What it Takes podcast. “I was very proud to have won that negotiation because Martini was very close to signing with Ferrari, which had had a strong 2013 season (third in the Constructors’ Championship, just six points behind second-placed Mercedes, with two wins). I believe the deciding factor was the space we were willing to offer Martini on the livery. Ferrari’s livery is red, and there’s no room for compromise on that, whereas we could make the entire car available. I told Martini, ‘Why not bring back the iconic Martini stripes across our entire car?’ And so we secured the sponsorship—I think our car was one of the most beautiful on the grid.” – she pointed out.

The performance of the Mercedes hybrid power unit also allowed Williams to outscore Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, effectively reversing Ferrari’s note to Martini. Williams finished the 2014 season with 320 points, behind only Mercedes and Red Bull, while Ferrari placed fourth, over 100 points behind. “That year, a small part of me was truly happy not only to have taken a sponsor from Ferrari but also to have beaten them on the track,” Claire Williams concluded.

The post That time Claire Williams angered Ferrari by snatching Martini sponsorship appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Carlos Sainz’s arrival at Williams is already making waves, setting the stage for a transformative 2025 Formula 1 campaign.

The Spaniard has secured a multi-year contract with the Grove-based team following his departure from Ferrari, a move that signals a major step forward for Williams. His signing is a significant achievement for the outfit, as he joins forces with Alex Albon to form a formidable driver pairing. With a wealth of experience, numerous points-scoring finishes, and a race victory to his name, Carlos Sainz brings proven talent to the table. Alongside Albon, the duo has adopted the nickname ‘Carbono,’ a nod to their bond and a potential rallying cry for the team’s fanbase.

Williams sees Carlos Sainz as a key piece in their long-term resurgence, aiming to claw their way back up the competitive order. The team endured a challenging 2024 campaign, scoring only 17 points across a season where Albon, Logan Sargeant, and Franco Colapinto all contributed. While team principal James Vowles has laid the groundwork for a more competitive future by strengthening operations behind the scenes, tangible progress on track will take time.

This is where Carlos Sainz’s presence becomes crucial. Bringing with him the mindset of a race winner from his tenure at Ferrari, the 30-year-old is determined to inject that same mentality into Williams.

Carlos Sainz urges Williams to adopt Ferrari’s relentless pursuit of every ‘tenth’ and ‘hundredth’ of a second

Even before officially racing for Williams, Carlos Sainz’s influence is already evident. His dedication to the team has been showcased in the simulator, where he has impressed engineers with his precision and meticulous approach. Additionally, his feedback following the post-season test in Abu Dhabi has been invaluable, offering detailed insights that could shape the team’s development direction.

The Spanish driver is pushing Williams to embrace a philosophy that prioritizes extracting every fraction of a second, a mindset deeply ingrained at the Maranello team. Speaking from the team’s factory in a video shared on Williams’ YouTube channel, he emphasized the Italian side’s obsession with chasing performance gains, expressing his desire to instill that same culture at Grove. If Williams can match that intensity, they may be able to accelerate their climb up the grid.

The former Ferrari driver explained that in a modern Formula 1 team operating at the Italian side’s level, there is an obsessive focus among every individual on extracting the final tenth or even hundredth of a second.

He noted that despite this relentless pursuit, Ferrari still faces immense challenges in competing with teams like McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull, highlighting just how high the level of competition is at the front of the grid.

Referring to the 1,200 people working at Ferrari, he acknowledged that while he was unsure of the exact number at Williams, the passion for winning was evident. However, at Ferrari, that passion translated into an unwavering fixation on every fraction of a second and the finest details of every component on the car.

Encouraging the Williams team, he expressed his desire to instill that same mindset, emphasizing that finding those last crucial tenths would be decisive. He assured them that if they adopted this meticulous approach, even the smallest gains in milliseconds would ultimately yield results on track.

The Unusual Choice Williams Made with Carlos Sainz During Barcelona Testing

Carlos Sainz has returned to the cockpit of a Williams Formula 1 car this week, taking part in TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Under these regulations, drivers are permitted to cover up to 1,000km over a maximum of four days using older-spec machinery.

The Spaniard got behind the wheel of the FW45 as Williams intensified its preparations for the 2025 season. However, one surprising detail stood out—Carlos Sainz was equipped with the 2023-spec steering wheel, a curious decision given that it will not be part of the car’s setup this year. While teams often use previous-generation cars for testing, opting for an outdated steering system raised questions about Williams’ approach.

Despite this, the 30-year-old still has ample time to familiarize himself with the 2025-spec wheel and overall setup before official pre-season testing gets underway in Bahrain later in February. With the season opener in Australia fast approaching, Carlos Sainz will have the opportunity to fine-tune his adaptation to the new package.

Behind the scenes, Carlos Sainz is reportedly highly motivated after witnessing firsthand the progress Williams is making on the development of his 2025 car. As he prepares for his first campaign with the team, the Spaniard is eager to make a strong impression alongside teammate Alex Albon and play a pivotal role in restoring Williams’ competitiveness on the grid.

The post Carlos Sainz urges Williams to adopt Ferrari approach amid key details that make a difference appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

The new Formula 1 season, the last with the current regulations with ground effect cars, is approaching, and the first predictions for 2025 are starting to come in. Charles Leclerc has made a few of them, talking about his former teammate Carlos Sainz: let’s see how the arrival of the Spaniard could improve the performance of Williams according to the Monegasque driver.

The season starting in March in Australia will be full of changes. Many drivers will debut in the top motorsport category, and many others will change teams. One of the most significant moves is surely Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, replacing Carlos Sainz, who will move to Williams to partner with Alex Albon.

This was certainly a tough blow for the Spanish driver. After spending four years at Maranello with a car that almost always allowed him to fight for the top five positions, he will join another historic team, but one that is struggling in the standings. It will be very difficult for him to increase his number of wins, which so far stands at four.

The Williams team, after being one of the most successful in Formula 1 history with 9 Constructors’ titles and 7 Drivers’ titles, has significantly declined. The first signs of trouble began in 2006. The cars, after fighting for world titles in the early 2000s with Montoya, started performing worse. From 2006 to 2014, with one exception, Williams never finished a season in the top 5.

After a brief period of competitiveness with Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, the Grove team faded into obscurity. In recent years, they have always been fighting to avoid finishing the season in last place in the Constructors’ Championship.

This is the team that will welcome Carlos Sainz in 2025. Despite this, his former teammate Leclerc is very confident: he knows that the Spaniard will bring Williams back to the top. “I think Lando and I are the two most qualified to talk about Carlos because we’ve spent many years with him. I can say he’s an incredibly talented driver, and he’s helped me improve in many areas.”

“I think that if Ferrari has made such progress today, it’s also thanks to Carlos’ work. I’m sure that for him, at Williams, it will only be a matter of time before he’s back and fighting for victories. He will give so much to Williams. The way he’s sensitive to every little change and every little problem felt in the car is fantastic.” – he pointed out.

“I’m sure that even from his first laps with Williams during the pre-season tests, the team will have a lot of valuable feedback that will help them a lot,” Charles Leclerc continued. “What will I miss about him? Definitely the battles. It was an absolute pleasure, and I look back on those moments only positively.” – the Ferrari man concluded.

The post Charles Leclerc has no doubts and admits it: how Carlos Sainz will improve Williams appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

With the 2025 Formula 1 season on the horizon, Alexander Albon has expressed his excitement about the new adventure alongside Carlos Sainz, the former Ferrari driver, at Williams. Having joined the Grove-based team from Ferrari, Sainz brings extensive experience and a competitive mindset.

Albon, who has already spent three seasons with Williams, sees Carlos Sainz as an opportunity to sharpen the team’s competitiveness. “I’ll be very interested to hear his feedback on the car and understand where he stands mentally compared to Ferrari,” Albon stated. This partnership could prove crucial in improving the performance of the team, which boasts a long history of success in Formula 1.

Will Carlos Sainz’s experience benefit Williams?

The Thai driver is aware of the challenges and opportunities that an experienced driver like Sainz can bring. “We need to understand what our strengths and weaknesses are,” he added. Sainz’s competitiveness and experience could play a key role in enhancing Williams, as the team seeks to return to the top of the competition.

Albon is preparing for a “good challenge” with a high-level teammate and a four-time Grand Prix winner. Reflecting on his own transition from Red Bull to Williams, Albon acknowledges how Carlos Sainz’s presence could inspire him to improve further. “It’s great to have someone who brings new energy, and I’m sure we’ll push each other,” he said.

The evolving relationship between Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz represents hope for Williams’ future in Formula 1. Both drivers are ready to embark on a journey that could bring the historic team back to competing at the highest levels. The 2025 season promises to be exciting and full of potential, with F1 fans eager to see how this new alliance unfolds.

The post Carlos Sainz and the comparison with Ferrari that could be a turning point for Williams appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Carlos Sainz’s move from Ferrari to Williams for the 2025 Formula 1 season may initially seem like a major step down, especially given the high-performance status of the Scuderia’s title-challenging car. On paper, the shift to a team that has long struggled at the back of the grid could be seen as a downgrade. However, Ted Kravitz believes that Williams will make significant progress with Carlos Sainz on board, suggesting that the team won’t be languishing among the backmarkers for long with the Spaniard’s arrival. Although Ferrari chose to replace him with the sport’s seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz’s strength on track, particularly in comparison to Hamilton, is clear.

However, with his move to Williams, Carlos Sainz will now face Alex Albon as a teammate, rather than his previous Ferrari counterpart Charles Leclerc. This change could be seen as a slightly less challenging prospect for the 29-year-old, giving him a different dynamic in his battles on track.

That said, David Croft has pointed out that Williams’ aspirations for 2025 have already been impacted by the crash damage that affected their budget at the tail end of this season, potentially complicating things for both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.

Nevertheless, Guenther Steiner has praised the Spaniard’s signing as a huge step forward for Williams, referring to it as akin to winning the “lottery.” For a team that has spent years struggling towards the back, the acquisition of a driver of Carlos Sainz’s caliber is a game-changer, not just for the present but also for the long-term future.

Williams has outlined its vision of returning to the front of the grid in the coming seasons, and Carlos Sainz’s extensive experience in fighting at the top will be a critical asset in helping them reach that goal. His insights and expertise in car development will provide Williams with a distinct advantage over other midfield competitors. Steiner emphasized that Sainz’s contribution could play a crucial role in shaping Williams’ future success, making his arrival a pivotal moment for the team.

“Williams really got a winning lottery ticket with Carlos now in the team because he will definitely work hard to bring the team forward,” he said – “To make the team [better] or not, I can’t say that, I don’t know exactly what’s going on at Williams. But, as a worker and someone who also has the experience of a good team, you always have to remember that Carlos was at Red Bull and Ferrari. That’s it, already experience from big teams that you can help in a team like Williams.” – the former Haas team boss pointed out.

What can Williams expect from the 2025 F1 season with Carlos Sainz?
James Vowles has acknowledged that Carlos Sainz’s arrival at Williams will influence their focus for the 2025 season, as they aim to push the limits of their car development efforts. While the team hopes to be competitive next year, their true priority lies in preparing for the 2026 season, which will bring new technical regulations.

Though it might be overly optimistic to expect Williams to challenge for a championship in 2026, the transformation of Brawn GP serves as a powerful reminder of how a major rule change can disrupt the status quo.

Brawn GP, previously known as Honda in 2008, entered the season after being purchased for just £1, developed the fastest car, and ended up winning both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in their only season. This remarkable turnaround is a cautionary tale for Williams’ rivals, illustrating that if the team dedicates its full resources to the 2026 season, they could achieve a similar level of success.

The post Gunther Steiner explains why Williams hit the ‘jackpot’ signing Carlos Sainz for upcoming F1 season appeared first on Scuderia Fans.