Williams’ signing of Carlos Sainz from Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season was regarded as one of the best pick-ups from the driver market last year.
The Spaniard became the hottest free agent in the paddock before the 2024 season had even started. Ferrari announced that he would be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at the end of the year.
With Mercedes and Red Bull off the table, Sainz opted to join Williams, despite interest from Alpine and Sauber. The Grove outfit have an attractive project, with James Vowles looking to build them back to the front of the grid.
Not everyone was convinced by the 30-year-old’s move, with Peter Windsor saying Sainz should have joined Sauber, as they become Audi in 2026. But alongside Alex Albon, Williams have all they need to be competitive even earlier than they thought.
| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
279 |
| 2 |
Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
147 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
131 |
| 4 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
114 |
| 5 |
Williams F1 Team |
51 |
| 6 |
Haas F1 Team |
20 |
| 7 |
Aston Martin F1 Team |
14 |
| 8 |
Racing Bulls |
10 |
| 9 |
Alpine F1 Team |
7 |
| 10 |
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
6 |
Williams are focusing on 2026 and the new regulations, but they have already found performance in 2025. The team have more than doubled their 2024 points tally, with Albon finishing fifth three times.
While his qualifying pace has been strong all year, Sainz has struggled compared to his teammate, as he learns how to adapt to the FW47. But results are starting to come for the Spaniard on the track; he is having an astronomical effect on Williams off of it.
James Vowles says Carlos Sainz can help build Williams into a successful team unlike Ferrari
It has been widely reported that the 30-year-old is already having a great impact on Williams behind the scenes. Vowles says Sainz has an ‘incredible’ work ethic as he goes above and beyond at Grove to analyse the data.
For the team principal, the Spaniard is more fit to race for Williams than Ferrari. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Vowles says Sainz is perfect to help build the team into a championship contender, whereas at Ferrari, they are ‘already there’ and just have to ‘perfect the details’.
“I’ve said it publicly before, and I’ll say it again: I think I have the two best drivers. Now, a nuance: I have the two best drivers for Williams because we need people who can help us turn this team into a successful championship team,” he said.
“That’s different from what Ferrari needs. Ferrari needs people who can take a team that’s already there and simply perfect the details. I need people who want to work every hour, every day, to make this team successful. It’s different, but I’m confident, truly confident, that I have the two best drivers for the job.”
Asked if Ferrari made a mistake letting Sainz leave, Vowles commented: “I can’t really tell you that or not. I mean, they had their reasons for making their decisions.
“Lewis is still a seven-time world champion. He still brings incredible knowledge. And as much as everyone talks about Lewis, he was pushing Charles in Miami. Ferrari did what they had to do for themselves and created an opportunity for me to be able to work with Carlos.”
Asked if, in any case, it was a good mistake that Sainz was made available, Vowles simply replied: “Exactly.”
READ MORE: Williams star Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Carlos Sainz gave a telling reaction to Ferrari’s woes in 2025
With Sainz on board, Williams have propelled themselves from backmarkers to having the fifth-fastest car on the grid. At times, they have even been able to keep pace with Mercedes and the Spaniard’s ex-team Ferrari.
That was apparent at the Miami GP, as Albon beat both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, while his teammate finished just behind them in ninth. Sainz has brought Ferrari wisdom to Williams, identifying where the FW47 is lacking.
The team’s form continued at the Emilia Romagna GP, as Sainz and Albon reached Q3 while Ferrari suffered a double Q2 elimination on home soil. Ferrari recovered in the race to finish P4 and P6, but Albon split them in P5 with a great effort.
Natalie Pinkham noticed Sainz was smiling when asked about his former team’s woes. He would have taken his exit personally back in 2024; he is starting to enjoy life at Williams.
