Source – Formula1.com
Carlos Sainz talked candidly about his choice to join Williams for the 2025 campaign, stating that he “immediately fell in love” with the team because of “the project and the people.”
Carlos Sainz’s journey to Williams was anything but conventional. The Spaniard, once a pillar of Ferrari’s F1 aspirations, found himself at the heart of the 2024 driver market upheaval when the motorsport world was stunned by Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move to Maranello. With the seven-time world champion set to partner Charles Leclerc, Sainz was left searching for a new home—a process that would see him linked to nearly every team on the grid. As speculation ran rampant, whispers of potential moves to Audi, Red Bull, and even a dramatic return to McLaren kept the F1 paddock buzzing. But when the dust settled, it was Williams that emerged victorious, securing Sainz’s signature in what is now seen as a defining moment for both the driver and the legendary British outfit.
The move to Williams was not just a matter of finding a vacant seat; it was a decision rooted in belief, vision, and trust. During a recent visit to the team’s headquarters in Grove, Sainz took a moment to reflect on his choice, speaking candidly in a Q&A session led by team principal James Vowles. For Sainz, it all boiled down to two key elements that made him fall in love with the team—the project and the people. While his initial instinct had been to focus on short-term performance metrics like immediate downforce gains and 2025 competitiveness, he soon realized that a longer-term perspective was necessary. As discussions with Vowles intensified, it became evident that Williams was not merely looking for a quick fix; they were constructing a future, a meticulously crafted plan to return to the front of the grid.
Sainz described how Vowles’ leadership played a pivotal role in winning him over. The Spaniard spoke with conviction about the project that Williams had put together, highlighting the team’s vision and the strength of their rebuilding efforts under Dorilton Capital’s ownership. He was drawn to the structured approach, the ambition, and the commitment to excellence that resonated with his own racing philosophy. More than just numbers and technical advancements, Sainz saw in Williams an opportunity to be part of something transformative, to contribute to a resurgence rather than merely chase an existing powerhouse’s success.
His belief in Williams was further reinforced by his past experiences. Recalling his departure from McLaren, Sainz noted that he had left with an unwavering confidence in the team’s potential to become champions one day. That intuition proved correct when McLaren eventually reached the pinnacle, and it was that same gut feeling that told him Williams had the ingredients for a triumphant future. The combination of strong leadership, solid financial backing, and a carefully assembled team gave him the confidence to commit.
Sainz has already begun immersing himself in the Williams environment, getting his first taste of the team’s machinery during the 2024 post-season test in Abu Dhabi before further refining his understanding in a recent session at Barcelona, where he drove the FW45 as part of a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program. Each lap served as a step closer to solidifying his place within the team, allowing him to integrate with engineers and gain invaluable insights into the car’s behavior.
Now, as Williams prepares for the 2025 season, anticipation is building. The team has announced plans to unveil a bespoke one-off livery on February 14, a symbolic gesture as they embark on a new chapter with Sainz at the helm. Just days later, on February 18, Williams will showcase their full color scheme at F1’s season launch event in London’s iconic O2 Arena, marking the dawn of what could be their most promising campaign in years.
For Sainz, this move is about more than just a new contract; it’s about purpose, ambition, and a chance to shape history. Williams, once the dominant force in Formula 1, has long been fighting to reclaim its former glory. Now, with a seasoned race winner in their ranks, they might just have found the key to unlocking their full potential. And for Sainz, the journey with Williams isn’t just another chapter—it’s a story waiting to be written, a legacy waiting to be built.
