Anthony Davidson can’t wait to see what ‘formidable’ F1 driver can do after ‘remarkable’ move

Lewis Hamilton has stolen most of the headlines already this year with his move to Ferrari, but the Briton’s departure from Mercedes is not the only switch to happen.

Eight of the 10 teams dipped into the F1 driver market to change or completely refresh their line-ups for the 2025 season. Just McLaren with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri plus Aston Martin with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll retained both of their racers from last season.

Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari was the headline change among the 2025 F1 grid which was not settled until December. Red Bull put the last pieces in the puzzle after sacking Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson promoted and rookie Isack Hadjar dropped in at Racing Bulls.

Anthony Davidson thinks Williams ‘can’t believe their luck’ after signing Carlos Sainz

Ferrari convincing Hamilton to move to Maranello caused further domino effects, too, as the Scuderia scrapped talks to hand Carlos Sainz a new contract once the 40-year-old penned an initial two-year deal. The Spaniard was in talks to stay at the Scuderia past the 2024 term.

Ultimately, Sainz signed a two-season, £8.5m-a-year contract with Williams in July that even includes options for the 2027 and 2028 campaigns. The 30-year-old rejected multiple teams to partner with Alex Albon and Anthony Davidson believes Williams ‘can’t believe their luck’.

READ MORE: Williams star Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height

Sainz rejected Alpine and Sauber/Audi to join the Grove squad in what is a move back down the grid. Now, Davidson is eager to see what the four-time Grand Prix winner can achieve at Williams after Red Bull and Mercedes chose against signing Sainz when Ferrari let him leave.

Davidson told RacingNews365: “I think Williams can’t quite believe their luck in how they’ve ended up with Carlos Sainz. He’s such a formidable driver that, actually, the combination of Sainz and Alex Albon pits them as one of the best driver line-ups on the grid.

“It is remarkable and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Sainz can do there at Williams… It is obviously something for the team bosses to answer, but it is certainly something that Williams feel like they’ve had a blessing.”

Carlos Sainz could make Red Bull and Mercedes regret picking Liam Lawson and Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Red Bull initially decided against welcoming Sainz back into their family, having been in their driver academy from 2010-14 and racing for Toro Rosso in F1 from 2015-17, by gifting Perez a contract for 2025 last June. It meant he was not still free when they ultimately axed Perez.

Also, Mercedes chose to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli over signing Sainz, with Toto Wolff fearing losing their driver academy sensation if he did not debut in Formula 1 in 2025. Now, Antonelli will be the third-youngest F1 driver ever when he starts the Australian Grand Prix.

Red Bull would even ultimately turn to an inexperienced driver in Lawson after they passed on 27-time podium finisher Sainz. Lawson will be Verstappen’s No2 for Red Bull despite the 23-year-old only making 11 Grand Prix starts over the past two seasons with cameo drives.

If Antonelli struggles in Hamilton’s vacated cockpit and Lawson struggles beside four-time defending champion Verstappen, Sainz showing why Davidson considers him a ‘formidable’ driver with Williams may make the two front-runners regret not picking up Ferrari’s scraps.