The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is going to be see plenty of goodbyes take place up and down the paddock.
Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes before heading to Ferrari is likely to be the main focus of the Formula 1 world.
However, for Hamilton arrive at Maranello in the New Year, Carlos Sainz needs to make way.
Sainz understands why Ferrari have dropped him for Hamilton and knows things could be a lot worse.
Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Kevin Magnussen will say goodbye to F1 – at least for 2025 – after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
There is also a good chance Sergio Perez loses his Red Bull seat, while Franco Colapinto looks set to return to the sidelines after his nine-race cameo.
Colapinto knew he didn’t have a seat at Williams next year because Sainz had already signed a deal to join Alex Albon.
It will be interesting to see how the pair get on alongside each other and Sainz was asked about his newest teammate on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
He relayed what the likes of Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and George Russell had told him about the 28-year-old.
Carlos Sainz shares what his F1 rivals have told him about Alex Albon ahead of Williams move
Sainz was asked about Albon becoming his new teammate and said: “I don’t only rate him as a racing driver, as a really good racing driver, but also as a great human.
“I think if you ask the other 19 drivers in the grid, who do you think is one of the genuine good guys in the grid, I think they would all say Alex.
“I’ve never been teammates with Alex, I’ve never seen his data, but I’ve always asked Lando, Charles or George, who have raced with Alex, and they all say people don’t know how fast Alex is.
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“Everyone is telling me he’s genuinely a really, really good driver, like super talented and super fast.
“They’ve all raced against him, me, I think, [for] only one year of karting, but I don’t remember much.
“And yeah, I think it’s a good cocktail of things, just a good human being and a great racing driver that I’m looking forward to working with.
“I think Williams, what Williams needs right now is two guys like Alex and I pushing flat out to make that process and make that journey as short as possible to bring Williams back to where they deserve to be.”
James Vowles already confident in Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon next year
Williams have had a 2024 to forget, with only Sauber sitting behind them in the Constructors’ Championship.
Alpine’s double-podium in Sao Paulo ended Williams’ hopes of finishing above them but in reality, their car simply hasn’t been quick enough to regularly score points this year.
Team principal James Vowles, however, is very confident in his pairing for next season.
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While Vowles is worried about how competitive Albon and Sainz are, he also told the Beyond The Grid Podcast that Williams have, ‘the best driver line-up on the grid’ in 2025.
Even if that were true – which fans of other teams will argue about – they’re unlikely to have a competitive car in 2025.
All eyes are on the new regulations the following year and whether Williams can become a team that challenges for race wins once again.
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