Immediately after the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which he raced with Ferrari, Carlos Sainz got behind the wheel of the Williams for the post-season tests. These track sessions were crucial for the Grove-based team, allowing them to gather as much feedback as possible from Carlos while his knowledge of the Maranello team was still fresh.
One of the first aspects of the car—and according to Carlos Sainz, the most important one—that the Spaniard commented on was the engine. He spent four years powered by Ferrari’s power units, but now he will be using Mercedes power units once again.
It is a return to his roots, as the number 55 driver had already experienced the power of the German team’s unit during his time at McLaren.
Carlos Sainz’s impressions at Williams
The Spanish driver has changed teams several times throughout his F1 career. Before Williams, he raced for Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari, giving him the opportunity to work with all four engine manufacturers that have supplied power units in recent years.
Having experienced different engine suppliers, he highlighted the significant impact a power unit has on an F1 car. “The thing you notice the most when you switch teams is when a PU is involved.”
What changes when using a new PU? “The noises, the vibrations, the sound—everything changes completely,” Carlos explains. He went on to describe his first test, where he focused on understanding the car’s aerodynamics, tires, and mechanics.
However, he added: “The only thing I had to adapt to in the first few laps was just how different a power unit can be. That is probably the biggest change. Even the way the power unit works in terms of switches, especially in today’s Formula 1.” – the Spaniard pointed out.
“With so many things happening on our steering wheels—the implementation, the battery, things like that, engine safety procedures, and power unit procedures—it is definitely the biggest adjustment I’ve had to make so far at Williams.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.
Leave a Reply