Sainz pinpoints decisive factor behind Williams decision

Carlos Sainz has revealed the factors that prompted him to sign for Williams, including past experiences at McLaren and Ferrari. 

Where Sainz would be racing in 2025 has been a major talking point for most of the year after it was announced Lewis Hamilton would take his seat at Ferrari for next season in February. 

The Spanish driver had offers and interest from Stake/Audi, Williams and Alpine, but did not take a decision until the start of the summer break, when he confirmed he would be partnering Alex Albon at Williams, having been wooed by James Vowles' charm offensive.

Discussing the process behind his move for the first time in detail, Sainz explained how he wanted to have a clear decision-making process and how signing for McLaren and Ferrari weighed on his mind.

"First of all, it was important for me to take the decision before the summer break," Sainz told media including RacingNews365 when asked what was the decisive factor in choosing Williams. 

"It has been a very tough seven months of my career where I had to deal with everything that happened in January [in losing the seat to Hamilton] in combination of obviously having to perform and deliver as a Ferrari driver in a high-pressure, high attention environment and having to decide my future at the same time. 

"You're talking to so many other teams and analysing and putting everything on the table at the same time you are competing, so that is why I put myself the target to take the decision the break, and when I took the decision, I wanted to be 100% convinced.

"That is why I gave myself plenty of time as you guys could see, and the took the decision because Williams is the team that from the beginning I had very good feelings about and good conversations with. 

"They are very committed to F1 with a very strong project for the future, very strong leadership and the will to bring a historic team with the pedigree of Williams back to the front.

"That is something that motivates me. It motivated me when I went to McLaren, when I went to Ferrari after a tough 2020, and it motivates me now to a project like Williams. 

"It is going to be an interesting few years in my career."

No immediate wins or podiums?

During his time at Ferrari, Sainz has captured three grand prix wins, 21 of his 23 podiums and five pole positions having fought at the head of the field, since 2022 in particular.

Williams last scored a podium, George Russell's 2021 Belgian GP washout podium excepted, at the 2017 Azerbaijan GP, and has finished last in the constructors' four times in five years between 2018 and 2022.

Under Vowles' leadership, Williams is modernising and re-building, with Sainz prepared to take the temporary hit of dropping down the field - although it is not something he is worried about.

"Being very honest with you, I've spent 10 years in Formula 1 and for eight of them, I haven't fought for wins and for two or three of them, I have," Sainz explained.

"I've actually spent more time not fighting for wins than actually fighting for wins and Formula 1 for me is about extracting the maximum out of the car. 

"The result is not purely dependent on the athlete and the driver, it is depending on the machinery you drive, and it is about how I am going to help Williams. 

"It is how I am going to help the project move forward, that really motivates me, it is something I want to feel, I want to feel like I can help. 

"This in such a historical team like Williams that has such a key vision is super cool to bring the team back to the front with the very clear investment. 

"It was something that was very important to me and the result for 2025, I know they might not be wins or podiums, but I still think we can do a good job."