Driving as if you were handling a Ferrari but realizing—and knowing full well—that you are in a different car. Not necessarily worse, just different. This is what has been happening to Carlos Sainz, who for the past few months has been the new full-time driver for Williams and a key figure in a team with serious ambitions for a revival.
Upon his arrival at Grove, celebrated by the British team, Carlos immediately became a valuable asset, both in terms of team environment and goals: having one of the best drivers in the paddock means raising your level to give him the best car possible.
Williams started the 2025 Formula 1 season excellently, with 17 points in 2 races and an interim fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. However, a more detailed analysis of these numbers offers insight into the current situation of the team’s drivers.
Alexander Albon, for instance, has scored 16 points, while Carlos Sainz has only 1. It’s important to clarify a few things and give the Spaniard some leeway regarding his less impressive start to the season. The mistake made in Melbourne was significant for a driver of his experience, but many others have made similar mistakes, even among more seasoned drivers (just ask Fernando Alonso).
In China, Carlos Sainz scored points due to a series of disqualifications—three in total: both Ferrari cars and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine—rather than his own merit. Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, the former Ferrari driver explained what has been holding him back. Losing mechanics that have become second nature is a complex process, especially when it must be done in just a few weeks and behind the wheel of a car that is very different from the one he’s used to. A deeply ingrained muscle memory that must be modified step by step. But, as often happens, making new mechanics feel natural requires time.
“In Ferrari, I was used to a certain type of car, which led me to drive, especially since 2022, in a very specific way to extract everything from those cars.” – he pointed out – “You develop driving habits that you then apply to the next car, and maybe they work in some corners, but in others, they make you very slow. That’s probably the case here, but there’s also a setup aspect that can help me drive the way I prefer.”
“From a driving perspective, the biggest challenge is learning again how to approach a corner, because you have a certain level of muscle memory, and especially under pressure in qualifying, you tend to revert to the way you’ve driven for years. It’s something that requires time and a lot of mental and driving effort, but it’s a challenge I’ve always enjoyed and have been able to overcome throughout my career.” I’ve driven 5 different cars, with different regulations, and probably two races haven’t been enough to understand how to make the most of this one. The car has strengths and weaknesses completely different from the ones I’ve driven in recent years.”
The Spanish driver’s goal is, therefore, to find the best way to fully exploit the Grove car as soon as possible. But the question now is: how long will it take? In this regard, Carlos said: “It depends on how far your natural driving style is from the car, but also on what you consider to be 100% integration with the car.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded – “If your 100% is closing your eyes and driving naturally fast, then it can take more than a year to reach that point.” It’s clear that at Williams, they hope it takes much, much less.
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