Carlos Sainz was given an emotional send-off by Ferrari as he prepares for his transfer to Williams forward of the 2025 Formulation 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 last 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. Nevertheless, 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 skill to steer 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 development 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 data of automobile growth might be invaluable for a staff working to enhance within the midfield.
Nevertheless, the journey is not going to be straightforward. New staff principal James Vowles has acknowledged that the 2025 season will focus extra on studying and growth 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 automobiles across the legendary Fiorano check observe. Ferrari’s press launch famous an amusing second throughout the farewell laps when Carlos Sainz’s father spun the automobile, however he rapidly 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 observe, reacquainting himself with the automobile with which he took his maiden Formulation 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 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 12 months.
Whereas they weren’t as shut within the Drivers’ Championship combat, the addition of Mercedes’ star drivers, together with Lewis Hamilton, is anticipated to strengthen their possibilities 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 skill 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 fashion. Nevertheless, if they can unlock that potential, it might propel the staff to new heights.
This potential for fulfillment is probably going a key motive why the seven-time Formulation 1 world champion selected the Italian aspect, and it might clarify why the staff believes their probabilities of profitable are larger with him onboard in comparison with Carlos Sainz.