Lewis Hamilton shocked the F1 paddock after announcing he would leave Mercedes after 12 years to join Ferrari. This meant Ferrari had to drop one of their drivers to accommodate the seven-time world champion. With Carlos Sainz running into the final year of his contract, the Spaniard was told it wouldn’t be renewed.
This left Sainz searching for a new seat for the 2025 season. Red Bull had just signed Sergio Perez to a new contract, while Mercedes wanted to bring in young protégé Kimi Antonelli. McLaren had a stable lineup, meaning there was no space for Sainz at a top team. The 30-year-old signed for Williams in the hope he could help create a top team.
Carlos Sainz saw potential in Williams
Carlos Sainz signed for Williams, despite having other contract offers on the table from rival teams. Sainz is credited with the rebuild of McLaren, with his time at the team seen as the groundwork for the Woking-based team’s current success. Sainz is hoping that he can turn the sleeping giant, Williams, into a top team once more.
Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Sainz commented: “I said to myself that if I can’t go to a top team I can give my contribution to create it. In Williams I saw the potential to start a beautiful story.”
Carlos Sainz Opens up on the Hidden Struggles of Switching Teams in F1
“I spoke at length with James (Vowles) about the project he had in mind. I decided to focus on Williams because it seemed to me the best opportunity to create a top team. Six months after joining this team I can say that I am even more convinced than when I signed the contract, we are all working 100% to achieve this goal.”
Williams was once a giant of F1 and was strong in the 1980s and 1990s. The Oxfordshire-based team has won 9 constructors’ titles and won drivers’ championships with the likes of Alain Prost and Damon Hill. Sainz is hoping the team can get back to its former glory and challenge for titles once more.
Will Williams be fighting the top teams next year?
Carlos Sainz has poured cold water on Williams’ fighting at the top next season. He believes the project is longer-term and the 2026 season will come too soon. However, he is pleased with the progress made by the team so far.
Sainz continued: “If I chose Williams it is because I saw in this team the potential to do what they are doing. Having said that, the step forward that we have seen has come sooner than I expected, and perhaps even the team itself has been surprised by how much it has managed to grow from last year to today.
Former F1 Driver Hails Williams’ ‘Fortunate’ Signing of Carlos Sainz
“I think we won’t be ready next year. It would be great to take another step forward because it would mean being with the top teams. This season we are having a first taste, in some qualifying we were able to compete on equal terms with Mercedes and Ferrari, and it was not at all a given that we would find ourselves in those positions.”
Despite the scepticism of Sainz, there are reasons for Williams to be positive. Mercedes is rumoured to have the best power unit for the 2026 regulation changes. Williams is a Mercedes customer, so they will benefit.
The other reason for optimism is that after the massive regulation changes in 2014, Williams got it right. They finished third in the constructors’ standings in the 2014 and 2015 seasons and recorded many podiums. There is hope that Williams could replicate that again. If they can, Williams could be a force next season.
