Sainz Sees a Future at Williams — But Can He Turn Vision Into Victory?

Sainz joined Williams for the 2025 season. But was it his best choice? / Credit: PlanetF1

In one of the most highly debated moves of the 2024 Formula 1 season, Carlos Sainz officially signed with Williams Racing, marking the start of a bold new chapter for both the Spanish driver and the legendary British team.

After many months of speculation and an increasingly competitive driver’s market, Sainz’s decision to join Williams signalled not only his faith in the team's long-term project, but also a fresh injection of ambition and experience for a squad hungry to return to the front of the grid.

However, 10 months later and 5 races into the 2025 season, we reflect on whether this decision was his best or a mistake he will come to regret.

The End of the Ferrari Era

Sainz’s departure from Ferrari was inevitable once Lewis Hamilton was announced as his replacement for 2025.

Despite putting in strong performances, including a memorable win at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix and several podium finishes, Sainz found himself edged out of the Scuderia as they opted for a blockbuster pairing of Hamilton and Leclerc.

It left the in demand experienced Spaniard with the tough decision of who to drive for in 2025 and beyond, with several teams rumoured to be courting him, including Audi (via Sauber), Alpine, and Williams.

There was no room for mistakes, as the wrong decision could potentially prove to be career ending.

After an agonising wait for fans yearning to discover his next team, Sainz chose the less obvious path, by joining Williams, a team that, whilst historically successful, has struggled in recent years.

Why Williams?

“It’s the people and the vision,” Sainz explained in an interview; “[There is] very strong leadership and a vision that immediately made me, let’s say, fall in love with the project.”

At the heart of said project is James Vowles, Team Principal at Williams since 2023. Vowles, formerly Mercedes’ strategy chief, has worked hard to modernise the team’s infrastructure, attract technical talent and build a culture of accountability and growth. His influence has already begun to bear fruit and by bringing in a proven, talented driver like Sainz is a signals intent and ambition on part of the team.

Vowles has openly praised Sainz’s approach, declaring that Sainz is “delivering above [his] expectations” for the way he analyses races and contributes to the development of the car. “In working with our; aerodynamicist team, race engineering team and pretty much everyone throughout our organisation, Carlos’s experience is proving invaluable to finding those last milliseconds” Vowles said, “that’s the reason why I wanted him as part of this team, and he’s delivering absolutely above my expectations.”

Early Season Ups and Downs

Sainz’s first few races with Williams have been a mixed bag of results.

Whilst a talented drive in the 3rd race of the season, in China, allowed him to snatch a point, after several post-race disqualifications elevated him to a top 10 finish, two races later a tough Bahrain race saw him tangle with Yuki Tsunoda, resulting in terminal damage and a Did Not Finish (DNF).

On their own these results may not sound earth-shattering, but for a team still rebuilding they represent progress and with more upgrades planned for the mid-season, Sainz’s influence on car development is expected to grow further.

Behind the scenes, his feedback has already helped shape the direction of the FW47’s evolution. Engineers say his insight has been instrumental in bringing a new level of precision and ambition to the car’s development path.

A Bigger Mission

For Sainz, this move isn’t just about staying in F1, it’s about shaping the future of a team with untapped potential.

Williams has a storied legacy, with nine constructors' titles and seven drivers' championships, but their last win came over a decade ago. Sainz believes that with the right foundations, that drought can end.

Sainz has thrown his weight behind the Williams revival, signing on with the team in a move that could redefine the F1 grid. Drawing on lessons from his transformative stint at McLaren, Sainz sees echoes of that journey in Williams' ambitious roadmap. Convinced the team is on the verge of a competitive resurgence, and perhaps even race wins, he was swayed by their unwavering commitment to F1.

Now, all eyes turn to seeing whether this bold new alliance can deliver.

Looking Ahead

There’s no sugar-coating the challenge ahead for both Sainz and Williams.

The team still lags behind the top teams in terms of; performance, budget, and infrastructure. But with Sainz onboard, a clear development plan and renewed leadership at the helm, there’s genuine belief that this isn’t just a temporary step but in fact represents the beginning of a new age.

For now, Sainz is putting in the effort, helping to shape a car and a team he believes in. Whether he’ll be rewarded with wins and podiums remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure, the Sainz-Williams era has begun and it’s already one of the most compelling storylines of the 2025 season