Carlos Sainz was given an emotional send-off by Ferrari as he prepares for his transfer to Williams forward of the 2025 Method 1 season.
The Spanish driver has spent the final 4 seasons alongside Charles Leclerc on the Italian crew and shall be changed by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming yr.
In his remaining season with the Maranello crew, Carlos Sainz managed to safe two race wins, together with a outstanding victory on the Australian Grand Prix, simply weeks after recovering from appendicitis surgical procedure. Nevertheless, he now faces a brand new problem with Williams as he joins forces with Alex Albon to assist return the crew to prominence, aiming to finish a 20-year championship drought. Lando Norris believes Carlos Sainz’s addition will elevate Williams right into a high contender, a view supported by Carlos Sainz’s confirmed potential to guide each McLaren and Ferrari towards the entrance of the grid in recent times.
Whereas instant success within the Constructors’ Championship could also be out of attain, there may be loads of potential for long-term progress on the Grove-based crew.
Carlos Sainz’s Father Spins Ferrari F1 Automotive Throughout Farewell Laps
Based on former Haas crew principal Guenther Steiner, Williams has secured a “lottery win” by signing Carlos Sainz, whose race-winning expertise and deep data of automotive growth shall be invaluable for a crew working to enhance within the midfield.
Nevertheless, the journey won’t be straightforward. New crew principal James Vowles has acknowledged that the 2025 season will focus extra on studying and growth than instant outcomes, with 2026 being seen because the yr to make important strides.
As a part of his farewell from Ferrari, Carlos Sainz and his father got the chance to drive two SF-75 vehicles across the legendary Fiorano take a look at monitor. Ferrari’s press launch famous an amusing second in the course of the farewell laps when Carlos Sainz’s father spun the automotive, however he rapidly regained management and continued to finish laps with sturdy tempo: “Though he spun the automotive, Senior quickly discovered his rhythm, finishing a number of runs doing constant lap occasions. At mid-morning, his son additionally went out on monitor, reacquainting himself with the automotive with which he took his maiden Method 1 win on the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.” – Ferrari’s press launch revealed.
Is Lewis Hamilton a Stronger Possibility for Ferrari Than Carlos Sainz?
Ferrari is presently adopting a “win now” mentality, having lastly developed a automotive able to competing persistently for the championship throughout a variety of circuits.
Traditionally, Ferrari has confronted challenges with automotive growth because the season progresses, however they seem to have overcome this hurdle, having taken the Constructors’ Championship battle right down to the wire at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this yr.
Whereas they weren’t as shut within the Drivers’ Championship battle, the addition of Mercedes’ star drivers, together with Lewis Hamilton, is anticipated to strengthen their probabilities on this space. Even Purple Bull’s Helmut Marko has praised Lewis Hamilton as “world-class,” acknowledging that the British driver has demonstrated for almost twenty years his potential to win and relentlessly problem his rivals.
Constructing a profitable partnership will take time, and it’ll rely upon the Maranello crew discovering a setup that fits Lewis Hamilton’s driving model. Nevertheless, if they can unlock that potential, it might propel the crew to new heights.
This potential for achievement is probably going a key motive why the seven-time Method 1 world champion selected the Italian facet, and it might clarify why the crew believes their probabilities of profitable are higher with him onboard in comparison with Carlos Sainz.