Carlos Sainz’s first race with Williams did not go to plan after a costly crash on the opening lap of the Australian Grand Prix ended his race early.
Despite the Spanish driver retiring from his Australian campaign, the team secured ten points after his team-mate Alex Albon crossed the line in an impressive fifth.
Opening up on what caused the crash during the wet race, the Spanish driver explained in the Williams post-race report:
“What an incredible feeling! We reflect on where we were twelve months ago and it’s just a world of difference. Well done to Alex – a solid drive from start to finish, defending against really great drivers behind him and didn’t put a foot wrong.
“In the case of Carlos, it was tricky conditions out there, but we can see that as he did an upshift at a difficult time, on a difficult part of the track, the car spun. We need to look at that all together as clearly, we could have two cars in the points today.
“I’m unbelievably proud of this team, and I can’t wait to get to Shanghai in just a few days. I’m looking forward to what we can do across the remainder of the season.”
Team principal James Vowles also commented:
“What an incredible feeling! We reflect on where we were twelve months ago and it’s just a world of difference. Well done to Alex – a solid drive from start to finish, defending against really great drivers behind him and didn’t put a foot wrong.
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“In the case of Carlos, it was tricky conditions out there, but we can see that as he did an upshift at a difficult time, on a difficult part of the track, the car spun. We need to look at that all together as clearly, we could have two cars in the points today.
“I’m unbelievably proud of this team and I can’t wait to get to Shanghai in just a few days. I’m looking forward to what we can do across the remainder of the season.”
Sainz joined Williams after being replaced at Ferrari by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton after a four-year stint with the team. Despite multiple seats being open for 2025, the Spaniard ultimately chose the Grove outfit, partly due to how Vowles is turning the team around.
The former Ferrari driver will have already put Australia behind him as he looks ahead to the first sprint race weekend of the year in China this weekend.
