“Williams is already doing things very well, some better than Ferrari and McLaren”
Carlos Sainz is having a challenging first season with Williams, but that doesn't stop him from stating that it is a project with enormous potential. Moreover, he reveals one of the main reasons why he joined the British team.
From the beginning, the relationship between Carlos Sainz and Williams has been projected as a love story between two halves made for each other. However, the results this season are not supporting them, and the Spanish driver is not able to get what he deserves for his potential and dedication.
But in all relationships, difficulties arise, and neither Williams nor Carlos Sainz have any intention of giving up, aware that they need each other.
“I wanted to have the opportunity to be heard and lead the team in the right direction”
A key aspect that ‘captivated’ Sainz
Williams needed a competitive and experienced driver who knew what a winning team needs. For his part, Carlos Sainz was looking for a structure where he could be a key pillar of the project. And that is what Williams provided him.
“Yes, it was very important for me and probably one of the most important pieces of the puzzle: going to a team where I knew I would be listened to, that I would be welcomed and would have the power to change things if there was something I didn’t like or wanted to improve,” the Spanish driver acknowledges.
“JV [James Vowles, director of Williams] always gave me that responsibility and leadership of ‘everything you say, we will try to make it happen’,” adds Carlos Sainz, who feels important in the team. “That was probably one of the key pieces.”
Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams
At 31 years old, Carlos Sainz has already been through five teams of different performance levels. The most notable were McLaren and Ferrari, an aspect that provides Williams with invaluable knowledge in its aspiration to return to the front positions.
“Obviously, I have been in Formula 1 for 10 years, and one of the things I think I can do well as a driver is develop a car and lead the team to create a better performance environment for everyone. I wanted to have the opportunity to be heard and lead the team in the right direction,” continues Carlos Sainz.
“I think it’s always interesting to share your different experiences. Now I have been in Formula 1 for 10 years and I have joined a rising team that is trying to become the best on the grid. I have very good experiences from that rising period at McLaren, the period at Ferrari, and obviously, I am trying to help as much as I can,” insists the Madrilenian.
Williams has shown this year that it has the potential for greater goals, but it also still needs to polish many aspects of the team. Sainz agrees, but also highlights that many things are already being done at the highest level of excellence.
“Williams is already doing things very well, and even in some areas better than I was used to in different teams”, he points out in relation to McLaren and Ferrari. “In other areas, clearly lacking and clearly things to improve. It’s about sharing that experience with Alex [Albon], JV, and the entire engineering team and in the factory to try to bring everything together to improve.”
This year, Williams hopes to achieve the fifth position in the constructors' championship, getting closer to the front in 2026 and aiming for even more significant heights in 2027. Will this historic team manage to revive the glories of the past?
Fuente: Motorsportweek.comFotos: Williams Racing
