Carlos Sainz has provided a realistic assessment of Williams’ future championship prospects. He claims that although he doesn’t think the team will be ready to challenge the front of the grid in 2026, he has confidence in the long-term vision under James Vowles’ leadership.
The Spanish driver, who joined the Grove outfit in 2025 following a four-year stint with Ferrari, spoke about the growth of the team during an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com.
“I don’t think we’ll be ready next year,” Sainz explained when asked how long it will take to bring Williams back to the top. “It would be fantastic to take another step forward, because that would mean being with the top teams – but my experience at Ferrari also taught me that it’s one thing to be in the group, another to actually beat the front-runners.
To read the full interview, click here.
“This year we’re getting a first taste – in some qualifying sessions, we’ve been able to fight on par with Mercedes and Ferrari, and that wasn’t a given. Then we made mistakes that cost us a lot of points, which proves that a team’s growth isn’t just about the car – the whole organisation has to grow, and I think James is the right person for that.
“I believe we’ll get there, so in a way it’s better to accept a few mistakes this season – since we don’t yet have a car that allows us to fight for the biggest goals.”
Sainz’s arrival at Williams came as a result of Lewis Hamilton’s surprise move to Ferrari. When signing with the British team, the 30-year-old driver explained that he had seen similarities at Williams to what he had seen in McLaren when he drove for the Woking squad in 2019-2020.
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
“At Williams, I found very capable people across the board,” he explained. “I remember when I joined McLaren, Andrea Stella and Peter Prodromou were there – maybe not yet in the roles they have today – but their profiles and ability were already very clear.
“When Ferrari came calling, I didn’t hesitate – it’s Ferrari – but I knew McLaren was going to grow. I still bump into Andrea in the paddock and I always tell him: it’s great to see what you guys have achieved. Even though I left just when they were starting to move forward, I have great memories.”
Williams has already seen a boost in performance during the 2025 season. Already exceeding its 2024 championship points, the James Vowles-led team is fifth in the constructors’ standings with 54 points.
