Historical past is just not misplaced on Carlos Sainz as he turns into the fourth driver in Method 1 to race for the Huge Three of Ferrari, McLaren and now Williams.
Sainz has turn into one thing of what pejoratively could be described as a journeyman, an excellent driver under absolutely the famous person degree who has regularly moved groups with the intention to discover a everlasting house to deploy his abilities, which in his case is just not solely his velocity but additionally his technical nous and collaborative mentality which has made him a particularly valued member at any of his earlier outfits.
Coming off the Crimson Bull conveyor belt in one in all its best eras, Sainz opted to go away its satellite tv for pc group Toro Rosso for 2 years at Renault, earlier than touchdown a McLaren drive in 2019. Two years later the potential for a dream Ferrari seat was unattainable to show down, and his four-year stint on the Scuderia was not solely his longest for a single group but additionally his most profitable, bagging 4 grand prix wins.
However Sainz’s Ferrari dream got here to a untimely finish because the Italian powerhouse grabbed the chance to dislodge Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, forming a mouthwatering partnership of F1’s most iconic group with its most well-known and profitable driver.
The information was a blow to Sainz, who was then introduced with a variety of a lot much less fascinating midfield outfits to choose from. However he has since turned the web page, completed his Ferrari stint with dignity and accepted his new problem at Williams, the as soon as nice group that’s going through an enormous rebuild underneath investor Dorilton Capital and led by group principal James Vowles.
“The one factor I can let you know is I am very pleased, I am very motivated, I am excited, I really feel supported,” Sainz stated after taking his new automotive for 2025, the Williams FW47, on a primary date round Silverstone on the group’s formidable Valentine’s Day launch.
Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47
Picture by: Williams
As anybody studying this may attest to, there’s nothing like feeling valued by your employer in any skilled stroll of life. And Vowles was completely determined to herald somebody of Sainz’s calibre for his racing pedigree, intimate information of Ferrari’s race-winning strategies and his cooperative character that’s certain to gel effectively with Alex Albon.
“I’ve a group principal and a group that totally trusts in my skills and that need to take heed to what I say, and I’ve confidence in my skills to assist the group to maneuver ahead. I like Alex as a team-mate in how we are able to each push this group ahead, so the entire venture simply motivates me rather a lot, and I am simply trying ahead.
“How a lot I’ll miss successful or how jealous I will likely be of individuals which can be preventing for positions that I was preventing for? I can’t say that but, however I can let you know that I am proud and pleased to be a part of a group like Williams and to hitch a venture that the group has trusted me to assist them in that restoration course of.”
Make no mistake about it. If Lewis Hamilton hadn’t felt the urge to go away Mercedes for a remaining alternative to race in crimson and make a contemporary begin at Ferrari, and the Scuderia had introduced Sainz with a long-term contract extension, he would have signed it in a heartbeat.
However even when going to Williams wasn’t his first selection, and Sainz admitted he’s curious to learn how he’ll cope going from preventing for podiums and wins to preventing for some extent, there’s an attraction to the as soon as profitable group that stretches past its present capacities.
Alain Prost, Williams FW15C Renault, 1st place adopted by Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/8 Ford
Picture by: Motorsport Pictures
For newer F1 followers – good day and welcome – it is likely to be more durable to think about, however lengthy earlier than Crimson Bull and Mercedes confirmed up, Williams, Ferrari and McLaren have been the game’s undisputed Huge Three, leaving mere breadcrumbs for the competitors. Between 1974 and 2004 solely two different outfits managed to win the world constructors’ title, Lotus in 1978 with Mario Andretti and the late Ronnie Peterson, and the 1995 Benetton group of Michael Schumacher and Johnny Herbert. Williams’ haul of 9 titles was solely lately matched by McLaren final 12 months, joint second behind Ferrari’s towering tally of 16.
Complete generations of followers due to this fact grew up with Williams, Ferrari and McLaren ruling the roost. So did Sainz, who was glued to the TV display screen as a baby in Madrid when Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya took the struggle to Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher and McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, in what would show to be Williams’ most up-to-date stint as a daily front-running group, with a keenness for F1 historical past undoubtedly handed on by his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr.
Little did Carlos Junior know that he would find yourself racing for all three, a feat solely three drivers managed earlier than him: Jacky Ickx, Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost.
Not the worst firm to be in, even when Williams’ circumstances are vastly totally different right this moment than they have been when Mansell and Prost muscled Williams’ Renault-powered automobiles to back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, simply earlier than Sainz was born.
However, whereas signing for Williams is a large step backwards for now, there’s a historic dimension to finishing the set of F1’s legacy Huge Three groups he’ll now have pushed for that’s not misplaced on the 30-year-old.
When requested by Motorsport.com concerning the prospect of turning into the fourth driver to take action, he grinned: “I feel for those who would have requested me after I was 10 years outdated and I began to fall in love with Method 1, which groups I’d have cherished to drive for in the future, I’d have positively picked these three.
“I am in my tenth 12 months in Method 1, and I am becoming a member of Williams at a vital second for Williams, the place it is going via some key adjustments in its historical past. Nothing would make me happier and extra proud, and it could positively be the proudest second of my profession, if in the future I could be on a podium with this group.
“I need to assist in that means of a historic group. It is the second most profitable group in Method 1 and being a part of that course of again to the highest of Method 1 is what motivates me. I feel you guys can inform I am pleased. I really feel supported by this group, and I feel that is hopefully going to convey out the very best model of myself.”
Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47
Picture by: Williams
Sainz is just not alone in his affinity for the historical past of the game and Williams itself. Staff boss Vowles says he is conscious about the duty of being a custodian of the Williams model and the legacy left by Sir Frank Williams, the group’s iconic founder and power of nature who handed away in 2021.
“We completely have a duty in direction of the late Sir Frank,” Vowles stated. “I joined this group as a result of it was the benchmark within the sport that redefines sure components for me and introduced me into the game. And that is why I am right here heading up Williams right this moment. It means one thing to me, one thing very deep and private.
“My purpose is just to convey this again to a championship degree and alongside the pathway, I need to make certain we do good to Sir Frank, his title and his legacy.”
There may be loads of proof to counsel Williams is at the least on the best way up, however solely time will inform if it goes all the best way to the highest once more. However nonetheless far it might go, alongside early adopter Albon it now has one other key determine in Sainz who will depart no stone unturned to get there.
The tenacious and clever Spaniard is simply the kind of driver Sir Frank would have favored.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Filip Cleeren
Method 1
Carlos Sainz
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