Key Sainz advantage detailed after Ferrari exit: 'He's more of a thinker'

Alex Albon hopes Carlos Sainz can provide Williams with a thinker's approach following his time with Ferrari ahead of the Spaniard's debut season with the iconic British team this year.

Williams pulled off a coup last year when it signed Sainz after it had been announced on February 1 that he would be leaving at the end of the coming season following Ferrari's decision to sign Lewis Hamilton.

Although Sainz took considerable time to decide, he eventually opted for Williams following lengthy talks with team boss James Vowles, who now feels he has one of the most formidable driver pairings in F1.

Sainz will link up with Albon, who heads into what will be his fourth season with the team. With Sainz's overall experience going back to 2015, Albon feels they can learn from one another.

"I would say, so, yes," said Albon, speaking to RacingNews365.

"I think our car, in changing its characteristics, it's become more towards the normal side of driving. The previous two years, it was quite a tricky car to understand in terms of the driving style it needed.

"So for that reason, the jump for him [Sainz] won't be as aggressive.

"But for me, what's exciting is the feedback and the knowledge he's going to bring across [from Ferrari].

"He's coming from a team that, especially recently, has been on good form.

"Carlos is quite an intelligent driver. He's more of a thinker. He'll be able to explain to the team the direction that Ferrari came to. In that sense as well, I'll be very open ears.

"I do want to hear where he thinks we need to improve, because I have an opinion, and I've been driving in a certain direction with the team.

"Just having that fresh mind, fresh energy, it'll be good for all of us."