Despite being linked with Red Bull and Mercedes at the beginning of the year, Carlos Sainz failed to reach a deal with either team. Sainz admits that he is still perplexed by some of the driver decisions that teams have made this year.
Carlos Sainz misses out on joining a top team
Williams team principal James Vowles has showered Sainz with praise in recent months.
Even before the 30-year-old signed with the British squad, Vowles emphasised that Carlos Sainz is one of the best drivers on the field.
After months of negotiation, an agreement was finally reached between the two parties – one of the shock agreements of this year’s driver market.
In the eyes of many, the Spaniard deserved to secure a seat with a top team – given his level of performance in the 2020s.
Sainz baffled by certain driver decisions
Reflecting on how the last twelve months evolved, the 30-year-old shares this sentiment:
“I’m a true believer that if I’m not going there, it’s because life just doesn’t want me to be there,” he told Sky Sports.
“[And] there’s something else coming after that that will actually turn out to be good.
“It hurt at the time [when he failed to join a top team]. We all have egos… I have a driver ego, and I couldn’t understand it at the time.
“I still personally cannot understand certain choices that people have done.
“At the same time, it creates even more of a challenge in me, it even makes me more excited for Williams.
“Williams is the one that has invested in me, that have backed me up from the beginning, the ones that came to me a full year ago.”
A new chapter begins with Williams
Moving from Ferrari to Williams is always going to be something of a downgrade, at considering F1’s existing pecking order.
Fred Vasseur’s team are currently fighting for the constructors championship, whilst Williams are 9th in the standings.
There is also a reasonable chance that Ferrari fight for the drivers title next year – with either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc.
In this context, whatever progress Williams achieve in 2025 will only be a small consolation. The more relevant data point will be the team’s performance in 2026.
With fresh regulations and new infrastructure coming into place, James Vowles’ personnel have a chance to make a step forward.
Only time will tell if Carlos Sainz can get himself back to the front of the grid with the Grove-based outfit.
