Carlos Sainz has already started work at Williams and is making some very positive noises as he prepares to begin life at his fifth different Formula 1 team.
After spells at Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari, Carlos Sainz has found himself at Williams for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
This time last year, Sainz had just discovered that Ferrari had signed Lewis Hamilton to replace him from this season onwards.
It was a bitter blow from the Spaniard who had been slightly behind Charles Leclerc over the past couple of seasons but a more than able teammate during their time together.
Were it not for an update package Ferrari delivered at the Spanish Grand Prix that saw them take a step backwards compared to McLaren, they would have likely won the Constructors’ Championship.
However, they ended last season with arguably the fastest car which will leave Sainz feeling slightly frustrated, particularly after his impressive performance at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Sainz had an offer from Alpine last year and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff insisted Sainz was an option to replace Hamilton.
In the end, the 30-year-old decided Williams was his best option for 2025 and in an interview with James Vowles has explained his reasons why.
Carlos Sainz explains why he chose to sign for Williams over their F1 rivals
Sainz was asked by Vowles why he chose Williams over any other teams and said: “You start off strongly, yeah! Putting me on the spot straight away.
“I’m really excited to be here and obviously start working together towards our main goal.
“What made me choose this place Williams over the rest of the teams? You might have seen me in some interviews mention it before but for me what was fundamental, it was not so much the short term.
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“At the beginning when I was having to take such an important decision, I was very focused on which team was going to be quicker in 2025, who was generating more downforce, who is finding out stuff that is going to make them quicker.
“Finally, I realised that my decision had to be based on two things: the project and the people.
“And when I started discussing in more detail with James, I realised that he had put together a very strong project here in Williams.
“He was forming a team with a vision, with a project together with Dorilton that I think is going to bring this team back to the front with very strong leadership and with a vision that immediately from the beginning made me fall in love with the project and trust his leadership.”
Carlos Sainz make McLaren comparison upon arriving at Williams’ factory
Sainz’s impact on every team he’s raced for can be seen, with each improving upon his arrival.
Talking about how he foresaw McLaren’s recent success, he said: “I remember when I left McLaren, I really thought there were really good people there and that team could be world champions in the future.
“McLaren ended up being world champion last year and I said, ‘OK, I need to trust my instinct.
“‘I know Williams have a good project, they have the backing and they have good people and in the end, this combination of two things made me really believe in Williams and come and join you guys.”
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The Spaniard will be well aware that joining Williams is a long-term project and challenging for victories is unlikely to be on his radar for some time.
However, Sainz has impressed Williams engineers already and he and Alex Albon have the experience to drive the team forward against some of their rivals in the midfield.
Ultimately, all eyes are on 2026 and the sport’s new regulations when Williams believe that they can take their biggest step forward yet under Vowles.
