Jacques Villeneuve points out odd Ferrari trend and argues team regrets losing Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz battles through difficult first season with Williams as Jacques Villeneuve highlights Ferrari’s struggles

Carlos Sainz’s debut Formula 1 campaign with Williams has been far from what the Spanish driver would have hoped for. After another frustrating weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix, where he failed to score points yet again, Sainz has slipped to 17th place in the championship standings. If the situation does not improve, this could mark the lowest championship finish of his entire career.

Despite Sainz’s personal difficulties, Williams as a team is enjoying its most successful season in nearly a decade. The Grove-based outfit has already collected over 80 points, primarily due to the impressive consistency of Alex Albon. The Thai-British driver has stepped up considerably, often extracting the maximum from the car and proving himself against race-winning competition. If Williams can hold on to its current form and benefit from the increased prize money, Carlos Sainz may be in a position to reap the rewards in 2026, when the team aims to take another step forward.

A timely Ferrari exit for Carlos Sainz?

Although Sainz would never have chosen to leave Ferrari on his own terms, the timing of his departure may ultimately have worked in his favour. Ferrari remains second in the constructors’ standings, but the gap to Red Bull and McLaren has widened, and the prospect of finishing a season without a race victory is growing more realistic with every passing weekend.

Jacques Villeneuve sees a familiar Sainz effect on teams

Former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve recently shared his perspective on the impact Carlos Sainz has had throughout his career. Speaking on Sky Sports’ F1 Show, Villeneuve pointed out what he described as a “really strange” pattern. According to the Canadian, Sainz’s presence tends to elevate the performance of a team, while his departure often leads to a decline.

Villeneuve outlined several examples to support his theory. After Sainz left Toro Rosso, the team slipped from seventh to ninth in the constructors’ standings. His exit from Renault coincided with the team dropping from fourth to fifth. Similarly, McLaren fell away from the top three after he departed. Now, Ferrari is showing signs of stagnation, even if they remain second overall, while Williams – Carlos Sainz’s new team – appears to be heading in a more positive direction.

Villeneuve suggested that this recurring trend highlights Carlos Sainz’s ability to contribute beyond just race results. Even when he isn’t the one scoring podiums, his feedback, technical understanding, and work ethic may be driving long-term gains for the teams he joins.

Sainz’s Ferrari legacy and the Hamilton comparison

The Spaniard joined Ferrari in 2021 and managed to win four Grands Prix during his time with the Scuderia, including two victories in his final season before departing for Williams. Villeneuve argued that Ferrari might now be feeling the absence of Carlos Sainz, suggesting that his input had played a larger role in their competitiveness than many realised.

He also claimed that Ferrari’s car development has stagnated without Carlos Sainz’s presence. Villeneuve observed that every time Sainz joins a team, it seems to make progress, while those he leaves behind tend to regress. In his words, the fact that Williams is now trending upwards while Ferrari struggles is no coincidence.

The question of Lewis Hamilton’s struggles

This conversation naturally links to the performances of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025. The seven-time world champion has endured a difficult adaptation period, with results far below what was expected when he made the high-profile switch from Mercedes. At 40 years old, Hamilton is the second-oldest driver on the grid, and his form has led to speculation that his career could be nearing its final chapter.

Carlos Sainz, reflecting on Hamilton’s situation earlier in the season, remarked that adapting to a new team is never easy. Having already driven for five different Formula 1 outfits, Sainz knows from experience that it takes time to settle in, understand a new car, and build trust with the engineers. While he avoided any criticism of Hamilton, he did acknowledge that the statistics suggest Ferrari has taken a step backward since the switch.

Still, Carlos Sainz insisted that he takes no pride in seeing his former team and replacement struggling. For him, it is simply part of the unpredictable nature of Formula 1. Nevertheless, the narrative may improve his standing in the driver market, particularly if Williams can take advantage of his experience and keep progressing in 2026.

What the future holds

For now, the debate over whether Ferrari miss Carlos Sainz will continue to be part of the wider conversation in Formula 1. The Spaniard’s story highlights how much a driver’s contribution off the track can influence long-term results. Meanwhile, Williams have reason for optimism, and Sainz will be eager to turn his personal misfortune into future success, ensuring that his career remains a talking point as the sport approaches its next era of regulation changes.