Sainz: 'Williams and I belong to fight for those places in F1!'
F1 News
Carlos Sainz will spend his next chapter in Formula One at Williams. After it was announced that Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari and Charles Leclerc agreed to a contract extension, the Spaniard was the one if not most in-demand free agents during 'silly season'. Sainz explained what motivates him especially about this next challenge.
Williams finished the 2024 season in ninth position in the constructors' standings. Although especially towards the final part of the season, the British team were inside the points, a podium or even a victory was not far away. Similarly, team principal James Vowles stated on multiple occasions that these seasons lead up to learning new ways of operating ahead of the 2026 regulation change.
'Williams and I belong there'
"I think James said it the other day and calmed everyone's expectations, that next year is going to be a tough year and a learning year before we prepare for the change of regulations in ‘26, where I believe the team is investing and the team is preparing to maximise that chance. What I can tell you is that I'm as determined as ever to help that team to be back where it belongs."
The Spaniard is confident in that together, they can arrive at where they belong to, and that is the front of the grid. "I personally feel like I belong to be fighting for wins, podiums and top fives in Formula 1. I think I've proven it these last four years as a driver. I think I belong to that. But Williams cannot forget that Williams also belongs to fighting for these top five and podium places. And together with the determination and the strength that I think we're going to show together, the target is to get Williams and myself fighting for those positions in the near future, in the nearest future."
Therefore, the challenge presented to Sainz only fuels him even more. "I don't think you guys understand and expect how motivated and how much I'm actually looking forward to that challenge. I know that's one of my qualities, to help a team to perform better and to know which directions to follow. And that actually motivates me, having a full team behind Alex and me pushing all in the same direction to make a historic team like Williams competitive again is. It's a challenge that yeah it's tough to explain but some people don't understand how much I'm actually looking forward to it."
Sainz's shies away from predictions
While the 2026 season will likely shake things up similarly to how regulation changes did over the course of Formula One, the four-time Grand Prix winner does not want to make predictions about the future. "That is a question that I cannot answer. It's impossible to predict the future, impossible to know how long it's going to take me and Williams to be back fighting for podium positions."
While Sainz could drive a Ferrari car as a farewell together with his father, Carlos Sainz Sr, at Fiorano with Charles Leclerc also in attendance, the Scuderia also gave him the opportunity to test for his new team in Abu Dhabi. Following the conclusion of the final event of the '24 season, on Monday, the driver completed his first miles on a testing day, and then took part in the Pirelli Tyre test the day after.
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