Carlos Sainz exclusive: “If I can’t join a top team, I’ll help build one”

What Williams Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz sees in front of him is the story of McLaren – a team he was part of when the foundations for its current success were being laid. His goal now is to follow a similar path with Williams, and Sainz is adamant he wants to be actively involved in that journey.

Leaving behind four years at Ferrari, today Sainz enjoyes a sense of stability. He knows what he wants and understands well the challenges that await him, starting with the adaptation process at Williams, which he fully anticipated. What emerges from this conversation with Motorsport.com is a clear-eyed, analytical mindset – and a refusal to lie to himself.

Motorsport.com: Carlos, twelve months ago, you didn’t know what your future holds for you. How are you now?

Carlos Sainz: On a personal level, a lot better. I’m now in a team with a long-term project that really motivates me. I feel part of a family – and that’s not to say I didn’t feel good at Ferrari, I want to make that clear – but last year a different situation developed, as I raced the entire season knowing I would be leaving.

It was a strange year, but all things considered, I think we did a good job as a team.

Last year, it took you a long time to decide to commit to Williams. How did that decision come about?

I took my time until the summer to check if there was an opportunity with a top team and to assess what the best alternative would be. I didn’t want to make the wrong choice – I evaluated everything very carefully.

Why wasn’t Carlos Sainz considered by top teams last year?

I’ve come to my own conclusions. But I’ll keep them to myself. I believe the people in F1 know perfectly well why certain choices are made – I don’t need to explain it in front of a microphone. So I told myself: if I can’t join a top team, I’ll help build one.

At Williams, I saw the potential to start a great story. I spoke at length with James [Vowles] about the project he had in mind, and I decided to bet on Williams because it seemed like the best opportunity to build a top team. Six months into this journey, I can say I’m even more convinced than when I signed. We’re all working 100% to achieve this goal.

This year, there’s been a lot of talk about the challenges drivers face when switching teams. How is your integration at Williams going?

I think this topic is getting so much attention because a great driver is currently facing the difficulties of changing teams. Now people are noticing something I’ve long been familiar with – I’ve switched teams five times. I remember my year at Renault, two years at McLaren, and back then when I said I was still adapting, I don’t think people understood what that meant. ‘You’re an F1 driver, you’re supposed to adapt quickly’ – but I don’t think people truly grasp what that involves.

It’s not an excuse, but now this issue is better understood. I speak with other drivers who’ve changed teams, and they all say that without testing, the only way to try things is during race weekends – and that obviously puts you at a disadvantage. But it’s the only way to grow, and that process takes time.

What does that mean in practical terms?

There are dozens of little things that vary from team to team. If we’re talking about power units, there’s engine braking, torque curves, then there are other elements like the differential, the feel of brake discs from different suppliers, tyre warm-up procedures on the outlap, tyre management in races, the qualifying lap approach – a lot of variables that are hugely important in modern F1.

A driver who’s spent three or four years in the same team obviously has a deep familiarity with all those things and can maximise performance. In my case, I look at Alex [Albon] – and also Charles [Leclerc] at Ferrari, Verstappen at Red Bull or Russell at Mercedes – to get to that level of feeling takes time, because they simply have that familiarity with things someone new to the team doesn’t know. You can only discover them during race weekends – driving, analysing data, or even copying – and that takes time.

Have you been surprised by Williams’ progress in the early part of the season, or did you expect it?

I chose Williams because I saw the potential – for exactly what we’re seeing now. That said, the step forward came sooner than I expected – and perhaps the team itself was also surprised by how much progress it made from last year. In the first races, we took a good step forward, but what gives me the most confidence is that once I was able to start tweaking the setup with the engineers, we made another step. I enjoy being able to contribute to the path we’re taking, and I think together with Alex we’re doing a good job in finding the right direction.

Before the Suzuka weekend, the team replaced the chassis you used in Melbourne and Shanghai. Was that your request?

I started the season very strong in testing in Bahrain, and even in the December test in Yas Marina the feedback was positive. But in the first two race weekends I had issues in qualifying – I didn’t have the feeling I expected. So the team decided to change the chassis earlier than planned. It’s true that from Japan onwards I was faster, but I’m not sure it was due to the chassis – I think it was more about setup changes that helped me drive better and understand the car.

How long will it take to bring Williams back to the level of the top teams?

I don’t think we’ll be ready next year. 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. 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.

How has your life changed?

When you change teams – and I’ve done it many times – other aspects of life change too. It’s natural. From the aga of 26 to 30, I was part of an incredible team – it was a great period. When I arrived at Imola this year, the fans welcomed me warmly – I felt loved, and I really want to thank them for that recognition. Those were four beautiful years in which we gave everything for Ferrari. I wouldn’t say I miss it, because I’ve turned the page. I’m now fully immersed in the Williams environment – I’ve got this opportunity and I have to make the most of it – but I’ll always carry some amazing memories.

Where do you see yourself in four-five years?

I’d like to win a world championship – to be fighting with Williams for that ultimate goal. That’s my life project: to have enthusiasm, motivation, and put all of that into a shared vision.

Last year, when you signed with Williams, you said something about the team reminding you of your time at McLaren – another project where you made a strong contribution.

It’s about trusting the right people. Teams today are really big, and it becomes crucial to have good leaders in every department. At Williams, I found very capable people across the board. 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.

Despite all the uncertainty last year, you managed to maintain strong performances. What was the hardest part of 2024?

It wasn’t the best year of my career – probably my McLaren seasons are still the ones I consider my best. At Ferrari, I had some highlights that led to wins, but clearly the toughest season was the last one. I didn’t know where I’d be racing the following year – and it’s not ideal to compete under such circumstances. To perform at 100%, you need to be calm and in an environment like Max or Charles have – where you know everything, and everything revolves around you. Last year, I tried to make the most of the opportunities that came up – and even though it wasn’t an easy season, I’m proud to have given everything for Ferrari.

One of the strongest images from your 2024 season is your expression on the podium in Mexico.

I’ll tell you why. I arrived in Mexico saying to myself: ‘Carlos, this could be the last time you win a race in Formula 1 – you don’t know what the future holds.’ In a way, I put pressure on myself – but it was a real thought. I knew the car was going to be competitive that weekend, and at the same time I was aware that by going to Williams, I couldn’t be sure I’d drive a winning car again.

Of course, my goal is to bring Williams to the top – I believe in my talent – but you can’t predict the future. Looking back on that Mexico City weekend, I don’t know how consciously, but I really pushed myself – and in the end, it worked. I’d say very well. I did the two laps of my life in Q3, made a good move on Verstappen, and won the race. After crossing the finish line, I told myself: ‘This is what I’m capable of.’