Scuderia Ferrari got here heartbreakingly near breaking their 16-year championship drought at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix however finally fell quick.
Charles Leclerc delivered a exceptional efficiency, climbing from nineteenth on the grid to safe a podium end. Nevertheless, his heroics weren’t sufficient to clinch the constructors’ championship for Ferrari. Lando Norris dominated on the entrance, sustaining composure beneath stress from Carlos Sainz to say a well-earned victory.
Because the season concludes, Carlos Sainz bids farewell to Ferrari, shifting to Williams after 4 years with the Scuderia. In the meantime, Lewis Hamilton is about to take Sainz’s place in 2026. With Ferrari’s aggressive place, Sainz’s transfer raises the query: might this be his final podium for a while?
Charles Leclerc Displays on Carlos Sainz’s Departure from Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have shared 4 transformative years as teammates, working tirelessly to revive Ferrari from a midfield contender to a championship powerhouse. Their mixed efforts have propelled the workforce to some extent the place their automobile outpaces Pink Bull, a workforce that dominated with Max Verstappen claiming 4 consecutive drivers’ titles.
Whereas Ferrari is poised for additional success in 2025, the final word problem shall be dethroning McLaren, who’ve ascended simply as impressively. Key moments, reminiscent of Charles Leclerc’s penalty on the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island or Carlos Sainz’s pricey crash with Sergio Perez in Azerbaijan, will probably be scrutinized as decisive elements within the title race.
After the ultimate race, Charles Leclerc expressed his blended feelings over the radio. He wished Carlos Sainz success in his new chapter and conveyed disappointment that their journey collectively didn’t culminate in championship glory.
“I’m sorry that at this time wasn’t sufficient. It hurts loads, I actually wished to win in Carlos’ final season with us. It was an absolute pleasure to work with him and I want him the very best.”
What lies forward for Carlos Sainz with Williams in 2025 Formulation 1 season?
Carlos Sainz steps right into a Williams workforce that has endured a seven-year podium drought however has proven dedication in closing the hole to its rivals.
Below the management of workforce principal James Vowles, a shrewd appointment that has already paid dividends, Williams has begun addressing long-standing infrastructure deficiencies. Vowles’ strategic imaginative and prescient and expertise have offered the Grove-based workforce with a stable basis from which to advance.
With Alex Albon remaining on board as a reliable and gifted teammate, Williams now boasts a confirmed driver lineup because it appears to be like to climb again into competition. The workforce’s ambitions are vital, however Vowles has tempered expectations for 2025, viewing it as a 12 months to construct expertise and lay the groundwork forward of the sweeping technical regulation adjustments set for 2026.
Although the journey is framed as a long-term undertaking, the chance to guide Williams again to prominence is a gigantic problem—and one which represents probably the most demanding chapter of Sainz’s profession. If he can information the workforce to the entrance of the grid, it could mark a rare achievement in Formulation 1 historical past.