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.

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Last year, Ferrari surprisingly triumphed in Australia with Carlos Sainz’s victory. One year later, the scenario has completely changed. A Ferrari this underwhelming hadn’t been seen in quite some time.

If qualifying was just a bad dream, the race was a full-blown nightmare. Charles Leclerc finished eighth, Lewis Hamilton tenth.

On the other hand, Carlos Sainz can half-smile: his retirement in the season opener—caused by a technical issue—was not in vain. His input was crucial in choosing the right strategy for teammate Alexander Albon, who brought his Williams home in fifth place.

And Ferrari? Fred Vasseur somewhat justified the result, which fell far below expectations, while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are already looking ahead to the next race in China. With Melbourne behind them, all eyes are now on Shanghai—mistakes are not an option for the Scuderia. Perhaps Ferrari could have used Carlos Sainz’s help this year as well?

Someone thought to ask the man himself this interesting question. As he arrived at the circuit for the Grand Prix, a fan held up a sign for the Williams driver asking: “Has Ferrari already written to you saying ‘we miss you’?”

The Spaniard’s response was summed up in his laughter: “Not yet!”

Carlos Sainz: “Not the start I wanted”
His Williams debut didn’t go as expected: Carlos Sainz suffered a technical issue that forced him to retire after just one lap.

“Not the start I wanted, but after understanding the problems, I felt calmer,” Carlos wrote on social media after the race. “Frustrated and disappointed for the team, but very happy with Alex’s result! Well done, Williams Racing! Now looking to China with more strength!”

 

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Former Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz made a remarkable statement at the Bahrain Formula 1 testing by setting the fastest lap on his debut with Williams, a feat that took many by surprise. While his departure from the Maranello team and move to a midfield team like Williams was initially seen as a temporary step back, Carlos Sainz showed no signs of being daunted by the change. Instead, he spent most of his time on track experimenting with different setups and focusing on shorter runs to gain a deeper understanding of his car’s capabilities.

Although it’s still unclear whether the performance is fully indicative of Williams’ true potential, the team recorded the fastest time over the three-day test, a result that would have seemed unbelievable just a few years ago. Despite this impressive achievement, Sainz expressed frustration after the session, feeling that he had yet to fully extract the car’s potential.

On the flip side, Williams provided some positive news by allowing Sainz to avoid long runs during testing. This decision left the team’s true pace uncertain, sparking curiosity about how competitive they might actually be in the upcoming season.

As the start of the 2025 season approaches with the Australian Grand Prix just around the corner, Carlos Sainz’s debut with Williams marks a new chapter in his career as one of the more experienced drivers on the grid. The Spaniard has already built a strong bond with his teammate, Alex Albon, calling him the “perfect” partner, and the two are expected to complement each other well due to their similar experience levels in the sport.

Riccardo Ceccarelli, a close associate of Carlos Sainz, believes that the Spaniard’s move to Williams is likely fueled by a desire to prove something to Ferrari, with Carlos Sainz possibly seeking ‘revenge’ for his departure. This dynamic could lead to a fascinating season ahead, as Sainz looks to make a statement and show his capabilities in a different team, with the added motivation of proving his worth after leaving the Scuderia. He mentioned that Carlos Sainz had to settle for a team like Williams, which was considered second-rate at the time. Despite this, Sainz managed to stay ahead of everyone during testing, with the team having nothing to hide. He explained that some teams, often knowingly, understand they won’t be able to compete for the world championship. They sometimes try to show off during tests to attract attention, possibly gain sponsorship, or generate interest. He acknowledged that this is a normal approach in the sport. For Carlos Sainz, he noted, every test is a challenge, almost like a form of revenge.

Where Can Carlos Sainz Expect Williams to Compete in Formula 1?

With the 2026 Formula 1 rules set to bring significant changes, the competitive order in the sport could be completely upended. As teams adapt to the new rules, Williams is positioning itself to take full advantage of these shifts and potentially rise through the ranks.

Alex Albon believes Williams could be in a strong position in 2026, with the team having made substantial investments in their infrastructure to ensure they are ready for the challenges ahead. This strategic move aims to help the team become more competitive and a serious contender in the coming seasons.

With the addition of a reliable and skilled driver lineup, including Carlos Sainz, Williams now has a strong foundation. Sainz’s experience and ability should provide the team with consistent points finishes across every race, increasing their potential to challenge for higher positions on the grid.

After the Bahrain testing, there’s a realistic possibility that Williams could emerge as the fifth-fastest team in Formula 1. If this trend continues, it would mark a significant step forward for the team, showing that they are on the right path toward returning to the front of the grid.

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His move came just months after signing a contract extension with the Silver Arrows, a deal originally intended to keep him at the team through 2025. However, after Mercedes endured a winless 2023 season—their first since 2011—Lewis Hamilton felt he had reached the limits of what he could achieve with the team and opted for a fresh challenge.

Ferrari approached Hamilton midway through 2023, mere weeks after he had re-signed with Mercedes. Thanks to a performance-related break clause in his contract, he was able to exit the deal. With Mercedes finishing second in the Constructors’ Championship and failing to provide a title-contending car, the seven-time world champion seized the opportunity to join the Scuderia.

Since his arrival, Lewis Hamilton has integrated well within Ferrari, appearing comfortable in the SF-25 during pre-season testing in Bahrain. In just two days, he managed to surpass a milestone Carlos Sainz had set in 2024, reinforcing Ferrari’s status as a frontrunner over a single lap.

Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, found himself without a Ferrari contract for 2025 and spent much of the previous season searching for a new seat. The latest season of *Drive to Survive*, releasing on March 7th, captures a revealing moment from the Bahrain pre-season press conference. Microphones picked up Sainz discussing a potential move to Mercedes with Hamilton, who made a striking comment about his former team’s future.

Lewis Hamilton’s Brutal Take on Mercedes Future Caught on *Drive to Survive*
With multiple drivers out of contract at the end of 2024, the Spanish driver had several options to consider. However, opportunities at the top four teams were scarce—McLaren had secured its driver lineup, and while Red Bull remained a possibility, his history with Max Verstappen made that move unlikely.

Mercedes, on the other hand, had a vacancy following Hamilton’s departure. When the Spaniard questioned Hamilton about the possibility of joining the Silver Arrows, the *Drive to Survive* microphones captured the seven-time champion’s blunt verdict on the team’s future prospects.

Hamilton: “Have you talked to Toto?”

Sainz: “I haven’t talked to Toto yet. Which makes me feel like if he had an interest, he would’ve already called me. You don’t think Merc will win again? You think they are declining?”

Hamilton: “No, I don’t think so.”

Lewis Hamilton Secures Two Final Mercedes Victories Before Maranello Move

Before making his high-profile switch to the Italian side, Lewis Hamilton added two more victories to his illustrious career with Mercedes, further cementing his legacy with the team.

One of those triumphs came in dominant fashion at the British Grand Prix, marking a record-breaking ninth victory at Silverstone. It was a fitting farewell moment for Hamilton, who had long been a fan favorite at his home circuit.

His second win, however, came under more unusual circumstances. Following George Russell’s disqualification from the Belgian Grand Prix due to an underweight car, Hamilton—who had originally finished second—was promoted to the top step of the podium.

Mercedes managed to secure two additional race wins through Russell, who claimed victories at the Austrian and Las Vegas Grands Prix. The latter was particularly significant, as it came at a time when McLaren and Ferrari were locked in a fierce battle for the Constructors’ Championship.

Despite these successes, Mercedes ultimately slipped to fourth in the final standings, seemingly justifying Hamilton’s decision to part ways with the team. Ferrari finished second, falling just 14 points short of McLaren, highlighting the Scuderia’s upward trajectory compared to Mercedes’ struggles.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz found himself in need of a new home after being replaced at Ferrari. Following months of discussions with multiple teams, he ultimately committed to Williams, convinced by team principal James Vowles that the project could offer him a competitive future.

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The spotlight of the 2025 Formula 1 season will undoubtedly be on Lewis Hamilton as he embarks on his first year with Ferrari, marking a historic chapter in his illustrious career. After spending 17 seasons with McLaren and Mercedes, Hamilton now joins the most iconic team in F1 history, chasing a record-breaking eighth world championship. Ferrari, though a powerhouse in the sport, has not seen a driver claim the championship since 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen narrowly edged Hamilton in the final race of the season.

The Scuderia came agonizingly close to winning the title again in 2008, only for Hamilton’s dramatic overtake on Timo Glock in the closing laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix to deny Felipe Massa his first championship. Since then, Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc have come close, with Alonso finishing second in the standings twice and Leclerc achieving the same feat in 2022, but falling far behind Max Verstappen in the points.

However, 2025 could be the year Ferrari finally ends its championship drought. Unfortunately for Carlos Sainz, he won’t have the opportunity to lead the charge. In a difficult decision, team principal Frederic Vasseur chose to replace Carlos Sainz with the British driver for the new season, leaving the Spanish driver to race for Williams instead.

Autosport journalist and F1 expert Roberto Chinchero has shed light on the emotional challenges faced by Carlos Sainz in his exit from Ferrari, revealing that the lack of alternative F1 offers proved to be even harder for the 30-year-old than losing his seat to Hamilton.

Roberto Chinchero discussed Carlos Sainz’s exit from the Maranello team, explaining that while not everyone understood why the team let Carlos Sainz go last year, the driver himself accepted that his replacement would not be just any driver. According to the Italian journalist, it was not the fact that Lewis Hamilton would be taking his seat that was most difficult for Carlos Sainz to accept, but rather that three other top teams had vacancies and did not approach him. Chinchero also noted that, over time, even the Italian media had come to recognize that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was something truly remarkable. He added that while the future would be determined by performance on track, the initial part of the story—without the noise of the engines—had been flawless.

Both Mercedes and Red Bull have made significant changes to their driver line-ups for the 2025 Formula 1 season, while McLaren has remained consistent by keeping Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in their seats. In contrast, Carlos Sainz has embarked on a new chapter of his career with Williams, a team currently positioned lower in the standings than he would have hoped.

Why Did Carlos Sainz Join Williams in 2025?

The announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in February 2024 created a ripple effect throughout the paddock, and Sainz’s availability became widely known well before the driver market frenzy, also known as “silly season,” truly began. With several high-profile drivers entering the market at the end of the 2024 season, the Spaniard was linked to nearly every top team.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, confirmed that Sainz was one of their options before they ultimately decided to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli to the senior team. Meanwhile, Audi expressed a strong desire to sign the Spanish driver, but the current struggles faced by Sauber made it unclear if the team could be competitive in the near future. Red Bull, on the other hand, did not actively pursue Carlos Sainz, potentially due to the strained relationship between his father and Max Verstappen’s camp.

After considering various options, Carlos Sainz chose to sign with Williams, a decision that was welcomed by team principal James Vowles, who was eager to secure the deal. While Williams may not be in a position to compete for championships in the immediate future, Sainz will be looking to help the team climb the standings over the coming seasons. For the Grove-based team, it will be essential to demonstrate to Sainz that, although a title challenge may not be on the cards for now, he has joined an ambitious and upward-bound team.

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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.

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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.

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Ferrari’s sweet problem
In 2025, Ferrari will have one of the strongest driver pairings in its history. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will undoubtedly ensure competitiveness on track and, provided they have the right car, have the potential to bring the title back to Maranello 18 years after Kimi Raikkonen’s championship win.

As is well known, in Formula 1, as in any other sport, the coexistence of two leaders risks creating more problems than benefits, especially if neither of them is willing to step back. However, for now, the challenge that will begin as early as the Bahrain tests is all about the stopwatch, and for the driver who had to reluctantly give up his seat—Carlos Sainz—the initial favorite will be Charles Leclerc, who is much more familiar with all of Ferrari’s inner workings.

Carlos Sainz’s comments
“The internal battle at Ferrari? I don’t know who will prevail, it will all depend on how long it takes Lewis to adapt,” the Spaniard told SoyMotor. “I think it’s something common to all of us who have changed cars; we will all have an adaptation period. It’s impossible to know what Lewis’s performance at Ferrari will be or what mine will be at Williams.” – the former Ferrari driver pointed out.

“It depends on how long it takes to find those last two tenths of a second in the car,” he added. “I think that when any F1 driver gets into a new car, they can be two or three tenths off the limit, but then all those adjustments you make on the steering wheel during a lap come with one or two years of experience, trial, and error.”

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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.

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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.

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