Carlos Sainz pinpoints ‘biggest change’ he faces at Williams that’s not in their full control

Carlos Sainz faces a very different objective driving for Williams than he enjoyed for Ferrari after being booted out of Maranello to make way for Lewis Hamilton to join.

The Scuderia scrapped their talks to hand Sainz a new contract a year ago after learning that Hamilton was open to leaving Mercedes. Eventually, the 30-year-old decided to sign a multi-season deal to join Williams. But moving to Grove marks a move backwards down the order.

Sainz has gone from helping Ferrari get second in the Formula 1 constructors’ championship to racing for the team who finished 2024 in ninth place. Just Sauber with their four points in 24 rounds scored fewer than Williams’ 17 through Alex Albon and stand-in Franco Colapinto.

Learning Mercedes’ engine settings on Williams’ steering wheel is Carlos Sainz’s ‘biggest’ challenge

So, Sainz will return to the Australian Grand Prix for his Williams debut on March 16 bidding to bag points rather than silverware. The Spaniard got top honours at Melbourne in 2024 as Sainz returned from appendicitis to win in Australia, after Ferrari already signed a successor.

But having different objectives is not the only change Sainz must get his head around ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season. He thinks the ‘biggest change’ Sainz has faced since leaving Ferrari is learning the settings for his new Mercedes power unit on Williams’ steering wheel.

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Having an early chance to drive their car in the 2024 post-season test let Sainz get Williams to change the position of his clutch. His laps during the team’s shakedown at Silverstone this month showed Sainz has a different clutch position to Albon after copying his Ferrari set-up.

But Williams are somewhat reliant on Mercedes to overcome the ‘biggest change’ Sainz still faces learning their steering wheel as he gets to grips with how to maximise the potential of their power unit. It is still a challenge for Sainz with 2025 his first year with a Mercedes unit.

“The thing you feel most when you change teams, when there is a power unit involved, is the power unit itself,” Sainz explained, via Autosprint. The Spaniard added: “Also the way the power unit works in terms of the buttons [and] changing parameters with the buttons.

“In Formula 1 today, with so many things that are on our steering wheels – between the power delivery, the battery and things like that, plus the safety procedures on the engine and the power unit – all of that is definitely the biggest change I’ve had to adapt to so far.”

Williams may fear for Carlos Sainz’s Australian GP hopes as he learns their steering wheel

Sainz’s steering wheel is not the only thing the Spaniard still has to adapt to at Williams after sampling their older cars and the FW47 ahead of pre-season testing. Lapping at Silverstone showed Sainz must adapt his driving style at Williams and lift less in any high-speed corners.

READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties

The four-time Grand Prix winner is yet to trust the FW47 can stay planted in the high-speed bends but realised it could handle more around the home of the British Grand Prix. Now, he will take those learnings into F1’s only pre-season test in Bahrain on February 26, 27 and 28.

If Sainz still struggles with Williams’ steering wheel at the Bahrain Grand Prix venue, it could leave Williams fearing for his performance in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The Madrid native won in Melbourne last year but has a lot to learn ahead of fighting for points.