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Williams managing to sign the "formidable" Carlos Sainz is a "blessing" for the team as it undergoes its rebuild, according to Anthony Davidson.

Sainz unexpectedly found himself on the driver market for 2025 after Lewis Hamilton took his Ferrari seat, with the Spanish racer initially expected to join Stake, the year before it becomes Audi, with his father Carlos Sr winning the Dakar Rally for the Ingolstadt-concern.

However, Alpine under Flavio Briatore and Williams boss James Vowles were keen to agree on a deal with Sainz, whose indecision was a cork in the driver market bottle for most of the summer months of 2024.

Ultimately, he opted to sign for Williams alongside Alex Albon, in something of a coup as Vowles continues to rebuild the team from its nadir of the late 2010s and early 2020s.

In pre-season testing, Sainz set the fastest lap of the three-day test but claimed he still felt "lost" with the FW47 as he also gets up to speed with a Mercedes power unit for the first time.

Both Mercedes and Red Bull had vacancies for 2025 but overlooked Sainz for a seat, a situation world endurance champion Davidson feels left Williams surprised.

"I think Williams can't quite believe their luck in how they've ended up with Carlos Sainz," Sky Sports F1 pundit Davidson exclusively told RacingNews365.

"He's such a formidable driver that actually, the combination of Sainz and Alex Albon pits them as one of the best driver line-ups on the grid.

"It is remarkable and I'm really looking forward to seeing what Sainz can do there at Williams."

As to why Mercedes and Red Bull dismissed Sainz, Davidson added; "It is obviously something for the team bosses to answer but it is certainly something that Williams feels like they've had a blessing."

Sky Sports is the exclusive home of Formula 1 in the UK & Ireland. Don't miss the start of the 2025 World Championship live from Melbourne, Australia, March 14-16th, only on Sky Sports and NOW.

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