Carlos Sainz was given an emotional send-off by Ferrari as he prepares for his transfer to Williams forward of the 2025 System 1 season.
The Spanish driver has spent the final 4 seasons alongside Charles Leclerc on the Italian staff and shall be changed by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming yr.
In his last season with the Maranello staff, Carlos Sainz managed to safe two race wins, together with a exceptional victory on the Australian Grand Prix, simply weeks after recovering from appendicitis surgical procedure. Nonetheless, he now faces a brand new problem with Williams as he joins forces with Alex Albon to assist return the staff to prominence, aiming to finish a 20-year championship drought. Lando Norris believes Carlos Sainz’s addition will elevate Williams right into a prime contender, a view supported by Carlos Sainz’s confirmed capacity to guide each McLaren and Ferrari towards the entrance of the grid lately.
Whereas fast success within the Constructors’ Championship could also be out of attain, there may be loads of potential for long-term development on the Grove-based staff.
Carlos Sainz’s Father Spins Ferrari F1 Automobile Throughout Farewell Laps
Based on former Haas staff principal Guenther Steiner, Williams has secured a “lottery win” by signing Carlos Sainz, whose race-winning expertise and deep information of automobile growth shall be invaluable for a staff working to enhance within the midfield.
Nonetheless, the journey won’t be straightforward. New staff principal James Vowles has acknowledged that the 2025 season will focus extra on studying and growth than fast 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 automobiles across the legendary Fiorano check monitor. Ferrari’s press launch famous an amusing second through the farewell laps when Carlos Sainz’s father spun the automobile, however he shortly regained management and continued to finish laps with sturdy tempo: “Though he spun the automobile, Senior quickly discovered his rhythm, finishing a number of runs doing constant lap instances. At mid-morning, his son additionally went out on monitor, reacquainting himself with the automobile with which he took his maiden System 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 automobile able to competing persistently for the championship throughout a variety of circuits.
Traditionally, Ferrari has confronted challenges with automobile 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 predicted 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 capacity to win and relentlessly problem his rivals.
Constructing a profitable partnership will take time, and it’ll rely upon the Maranello staff discovering a setup that fits Lewis Hamilton’s driving type. Nonetheless, if they’re able to unlock that potential, it might propel the staff to new heights.
This potential for achievement is probably going a key motive why the seven-time System 1 world champion selected the Italian aspect, and it could clarify why the staff believes their probabilities of successful are higher with him onboard in comparison with Carlos Sainz.