Carlos Sainz was given an emotional send-off by Ferrari as he prepares for his move to Williams ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The Spanish driver has spent the last four seasons alongside Charles Leclerc at the Italian team and will be replaced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming year.
In his final season with the Maranello team, Carlos Sainz managed to secure two race wins, including a remarkable victory at the Australian Grand Prix, just weeks after recovering from appendicitis surgery. However, he now faces a new challenge with Williams as he joins forces with Alex Albon to help return the team to prominence, aiming to end a 20-year championship drought. Lando Norris believes Carlos Sainz’s addition will elevate Williams into a top contender, a view supported by Carlos Sainz’s proven ability to lead both McLaren and Ferrari toward the front of the grid in recent years.
While immediate success in the Constructors’ Championship may be out of reach, there is plenty of potential for long-term growth at the Grove-based team.
Carlos Sainz’s Father Spins Ferrari F1 Car During Farewell Laps
According to former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, Williams has secured a “lottery win” by signing Carlos Sainz, whose race-winning experience and deep knowledge of car development will be invaluable for a team working to improve in the midfield.
However, the journey will not be easy. New team principal James Vowles has acknowledged that the 2025 season will focus more on learning and development than immediate results, with 2026 being seen as the year to make significant strides.
As part of his farewell from Ferrari, Carlos Sainz and his father were given the opportunity to drive two SF-75 cars around the legendary Fiorano test track. Ferrari’s press release noted an amusing moment during the farewell laps when Carlos Sainz’s father spun the car, but he quickly regained control and continued to complete laps with strong pace: “Although he spun the car, Senior soon found his rhythm, completing several runs doing consistent lap times. At mid-morning, his son also went out on track, reacquainting himself with the car with which he took his maiden Formula 1 win at the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.” – Ferrari’s press release revealed.
Is Lewis Hamilton a Stronger Option for Ferrari Than Carlos Sainz?
Ferrari is currently adopting a “win now” mentality, having finally developed a car capable of competing consistently for the championship across a wide range of circuits.
Historically, Ferrari has faced challenges with car development as the season progresses, but they appear to have overcome this hurdle, having taken the Constructors’ Championship battle down to the wire at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this year.
While they were not as close in the Drivers’ Championship fight, the addition of Mercedes’ star drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, is expected to strengthen their chances in this area. Even Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has praised Lewis Hamilton as “world-class,” acknowledging that the British driver has demonstrated for nearly two decades his ability to win and relentlessly challenge his rivals.
Building a successful partnership will take time, and it will depend on the Maranello team finding a setup that suits Lewis Hamilton’s driving style. However, if they are able to unlock that potential, it could propel the team to new heights.
This potential for success is likely a key reason why the seven-time Formula 1 world champion chose the Italian side, and it may explain why the team believes their chances of winning are greater with him onboard compared to Carlos Sainz.
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