Carlos Sainz was given an emotional send-off by Ferrari as he prepares for his transfer to Williams forward of the 2025 Components 1 season.
The Spanish driver has spent the final 4 seasons alongside Charles Leclerc on the Italian staff and might be changed by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming 12 months.
In his remaining season with the Maranello staff, 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. 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 high contender, a view supported by Carlos Sainz’s confirmed means to guide each McLaren and Ferrari towards the entrance of the grid lately.
Whereas quick 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 staff.
Carlos Sainz’s Father Spins Ferrari F1 Automotive Throughout Farewell Laps
In accordance with 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 improvement might be invaluable for a staff working to enhance within the midfield.
Nonetheless, the journey is not going to be simple. New staff principal James Vowles has acknowledged that the 2025 season will focus extra on studying and improvement than quick outcomes, with 2026 being seen because the 12 months 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 through the farewell laps when Carlos Sainz’s father spun the automobile, however he shortly regained management and continued to finish laps with robust tempo: “Though he spun the automobile, 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 automobile with which he took his maiden Components 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 at the moment 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 improvement 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 12 months.
Whereas they weren’t as shut within the Drivers’ Championship combat, 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 practically twenty years his means to win and relentlessly problem his rivals.
Constructing a profitable partnership will take time, and it’ll rely on the Maranello staff discovering a setup that fits Lewis Hamilton’s driving type. Nonetheless, if they can 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 Components 1 world champion selected the Italian facet, and it could clarify why the staff believes their possibilities of profitable are better with him onboard in comparison with Carlos Sainz.