Formula 1: Carlos Sainz opens up on Williams move
Carlos Sainz, the three-time Formula 1 race winner, who signed a multi-year deal with Williams, said he analyzed every possible option in the market. Sainz's Scuderia Ferrari contract is set to conclude at the end of 2024, making room for seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Despite interest from other teams including Alpine, Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Mercedes, Sainz chose Williams due to their trust and belief in him. Here we present the key details.
Sainz reveals reasons behind Williams deal
Sainz disclosed the factors that influenced his decision to join Williams, during the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break. "I obviously analyzed every possible option in the market," he said to the official F1 site. However, he realized that other competitive options would require a long wait or were not strongly probable. This led him to explore opportunities with both Red Bull and Mercedes.
Sainz's commitment to Williams and future plans
Sainz emphasized his commitment to Williams, stating that he is "fully committed to Williams for the future." He also expressed his enthusiasm about the project at Williams, stating that he feels "really encouraged by the project there, and really motivated to see a team that wanted me so much." This statement underscores Sainz's dedication toward his new team and his eagerness to contribute positively.
Williams Team Principal praises Sainz's technical impact
Williams Team Principal James Vowles praised Sainz for his positive technical impact on all the teams he has driven for since his F1 debut in 2015. This was a key factor in Vowles's decision to pursue Sainz. The Spanish driver also acknowledged this trait as something he wants to be remembered for from his time with Ferrari, stating that he is "very proud and happy with having contributed to the progress."
Alex Albon welcomes Sainz to Williams
Alex Albon, who will be Sainz's teammate at Williams next season, has expressed his excitement about the new partnership. He stated that he is looking forward to learning from each other and pushing each other hard. Albon also highlighted the value of Sainz's feedback on the new generation of cars for the team, indicating a positive outlook for their collaboration in the upcoming season.
A look at Sainz's career stats
As mentioned, Sainz is a three-time race winner in F1. The Spaniard has earned 23 podium finishes. Notably, five of his podium finishes have come in the 2024 F1 season. Sainz started his F1 journey with Toro Rosso in 2015. He raced for Renault threafter before joining McLaren. Across two seasons at McLaren, he earned two podiums. Ferrari hired Sainz in 2021 and he has since then impressed.
21 podium finishes with Ferrari
In his debut season with Ferrari, he clocked four podiums. In 2022, he had a solid campaign, taking nine podiums and a maiden race win at the British GP. In 2023, he finished 7th, managing one race win and three podiums. In 2024, he has won one race - Australian GP. He is currently fifth in the 2024 F1 Driver Standings after 14 races.
