Carlos Sainz Jnr says he chose to join Williams last year because he decided to prioritise long-term performance over his 2025 prospects.
The driver who scored two victories last year hoped to find a race-winning car for this season after learning he would lose his seat at Ferrari. However he ultimately chose to join Williams, who ended 2024 ninth out of F1’s 10 teams.“At the beginning, when I was having to take such an important decision, I was very focussed 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,” he told Williams staff at a pre-season event with team principal James Vowles.
“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 a 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.”
Sainz joined Ferrari from McLaren in 2021. He said McLaren’s potential was clear to him when he made the move, which emboldened him to put his faith in Williams.
“When I left McLaren, I really thought there was really good people there and that team could be world champions in the future. McLaren ended up being world champions last year and I said, okay, 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.”
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Sainz began work for his new team on the day after last season ended, with a filming day at Yas Marina, followed by a day of testing. He said the team’s attitude impressed him, particularly after Williams mechanics endured many long nights at the end of the season repairing crash damage.
“The thing that I was most impressed about, if I’m honest with you, is just how motivated everyone was, even at the end of a year when we all know you went through a tough last few races,” he said. “There was a lot of hard work here at the factory, a lot of hard work at the track to get the two cars to keep going after such a bad run of crashes.
“I found people that were really enthusiastic and very motivated to work through those two days. And it’s not easy because the Abu Dhabi test is after a triple-header, [everyone is] very low in energy. I’ve done that test with other teams and I know how tired everyone gets at the end of the season at that stage.
“[But] I saw smiling faces everywhere. I saw people wanting to participate, wanting to collaborate, wanting to make that test as positive as possible. And honestly, I was extremely impressed by that and I really enjoyed the two days. It was the perfect way to go into the winter knowing I have full backing and I have everyone pushing flat-out [for] the rest of the winter.”
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BasCB (@bascb)
5th February 2025, 10:45
Well, I guess we all hope that Williams does actually make the turn and gets into a run to close in on being in contention for regular podiums, for wins and even the Championship. Right now I find it hard to believe they will be able to, but I guess McLaren showed us last year that given sufficient will, money and good choices it is possible.
someone or something
5th February 2025, 12:12
Honestly, no.
I love an underdog as much as everyone else, but this “Williams” is just the bought-out shell of a formerly great team. I fail to find much love in my heart for Dorilton Capital, and James Vowles’ vast overrepresentation in screen time and and sound bites compared to the team’s sporting relevance and progress (or rather: the noticeable lack thereof) does very little to kindle my passion for the team.
I’m happy when a backmarker team hires promising drivers and scores occasional standout results, keeping the big names on their toes and punishing them for their mistakes.
But as soon as success becomes a regular, expected thing, the underdog bonus wears off, and there is no more reason to look past the fact that this team is all astroturf and no grassroots.
kuvemar
5th February 2025, 14:09
Doesn’t feel like that much, to be honest. Claire was featured more often.
PacificPR (@streydt)
5th February 2025, 18:12
Agree with most points. It’s hard to see how they will move forward – the team and name are just an investment and nothing more.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
5th February 2025, 18:42
wow some people are so self involved. Im this. I would be that. Is that you Donald?
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
6th February 2025, 10:56
Williams didn’t achieve much of note between 2004 and 2020 when the Williams family was still leading the team.
Jungle
5th February 2025, 10:49
“Finally, I realised that my decision had to be based on two things: Redbull and Merc didn’t want me?
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
5th February 2025, 11:41
Exactly that 🤣
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
6th February 2025, 20:55
100%.
“What’s that Williams, you’re offering me the most money plus a historical excuse for choosing you? Thanks very much!”
Jungle
7th February 2025, 5:32
At least he didn’t use the word legacy.
someone or something
5th February 2025, 11:53
: the lack of competitive options.
We all know he’s only there to stay relevant and throw his hat in the ring as soon as a competitive seat becomes available. That Williams was the lesser evil among a small handful of bad options. I get that it’d be unprofessional and counterproductive to say it. But telling fairytales to over-compensate? Ugh.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
5th February 2025, 18:46
I really really hope they make the nayasayers eat their words. Its a team on the up and CArlos is playing it perfectly. Thankfully there team isnt made up of people who’ve just given up. Just a few ‘fans’ of the sport who for some reason seem to wish them ill
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
6th February 2025, 2:42
If we consider mclaren’s recovery, you never know, it’s never too late to be back to being a top team, however it’s likely gonna take longer, as williams had fallen further back than mclaren ever did.
MacLeod (@macleod)
6th February 2025, 8:09
If Williams is going to move to the front then I think that will be in 2026 if their design is decent.
dot_com (@dot_com)
5th February 2025, 12:38
I feel like everyone’s being pretty hard on Carlos and Williams here. Sure, he would rather be in a Ferrari or a Red Bull, nobody is denying that. But I do genuinely believe that once he started communicating with Williams, he got excited about what they’re doing and the prospect of a long term project to bring one of the most famous names in F1 back to the front. He’s also one of only four drivers ever to have driven for the historically ‘big three’ teams (Ferrari, McLaren and Williams) and I’m sure this means a lot to him on a personal level. I do feel a little sorry for Carlos that he is not going to be fighting for wins this year, I think he’s one of the best current drivers. But Albon and Sainz is one of the most interesting and exciting line ups for me this year, and I’m so happy that Williams have a strong pairing for the first time in so many years.
Philip Roden
5th February 2025, 15:19
It is a strong pairing for Williams, but I feel that Sainz is going to make Albon look very ordinary. He’s had it especially easy with Sergeant and Latifi.
dot_com (@dot_com)
5th February 2025, 17:04
Yeah I think I agree. I really like Albon and he’s been the only good thing about Williams in the last few years, but he’s really had no competition. I rate Sainz very highly, and this could be a very tricky year for Albon.
PacificPR (@streydt)
5th February 2025, 18:07
Well I am not so sure, wouldn’t be surprised at all if Albon and Sainz are gonna be closely matched. Albon knows the car the team and is used to battle for the lower ranks.
SteveP
5th February 2025, 17:22
If you mean when the first offers from Williams, then according to Vowles the first approach was before the start of the 2024 season. When Sainz noted that all the big teams told him “Thank you for your application, best wishes for your career elsewhere” and it was Audi or Williams as his options was some months later.
For the record, I think he was badly treated by Ferrari and various teams further up the grid ought to have taken him.
I hope he does well at Williams and that the team make significant progress up the grid.
Like Philip has said, I think Sainz will make Albon look very ordinary, after all a rookie stepped in and between crashes (by both the rookie and Albon) he was made to look rather ordinary.
Mathias
5th February 2025, 14:18
And as everybody knows, a smile really goes a long way, especially in F1.
Jungle
6th February 2025, 23:39
Speaking of smiles i was actually quite surprised at the time Ferrari chose Sainz over Ricciardo. Ricciardo’s form was still there and as a yardstick both had driven a season against Hulkenberg at Renault from memory?
They had also seen Ricciardo against Vettel earlier on too.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
6th February 2025, 2:48
I suppose it’s gonna be very satisfying if he can manage to bring back a historical team like williams to winning ways, something similar to what schumacher did, though it’s not gonna be easy or quick, but mclaren showed it’s possible to get back at the top after many years in the midfield.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
6th February 2025, 4:59
I was surprised when Mercedes and Red Bull both declined to employ Carlos. He comes across as a well motivated driver who is prepared to innovate, and much a much better driver than who both of those teams chose for this year. How influential he is will be apparent by the time we get to the mid-season break. My guess (and I’m really good at guessing badly) is he will be in the top half of drivers on the WDC points table.
ryanoceros (@ryanoceros)
6th February 2025, 20:41
I’m skeptical that an American private equity firm is willing to keep investing enough capital to keep the team progressing. Their budget last year was atrocious. They must have been wellll below the cost cap. I get the feeling they are holding on to the team until the time is right to sell it.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
6th February 2025, 21:19
But they’re not really ‘Williams’ in the same way as the most recent incarnation of Lotus wasn’t ’Lotus’.
Since they sold, I couldn’t care less really.
entah
7th February 2025, 0:41
Hope that they can achieve 2014-2015 results again in the near future.