Carlos Sainz was given an emotional send-off by Ferrari as he prepares for his transfer to Williams forward of the 2025 System 1 season.
The Spanish driver has spent the final 4 seasons alongside Charles Leclerc on the Italian group and will likely be changed by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming 12 months.
In his remaining season with the Maranello group, Carlos Sainz managed to safe two race wins, together with a outstanding victory on the Australian Grand Prix, simply weeks after recovering from appendicitis surgical procedure. Nonetheless, he now faces a brand new problem with Williams as he joins forces with Alex Albon to assist return the group to prominence, aiming to finish a 20-year championship drought. Lando Norris believes Carlos Sainz’s addition will elevate Williams right into a prime contender, a view supported by Carlos Sainz’s confirmed means to steer each McLaren and Ferrari towards the entrance of the grid in recent times.
Whereas rapid success within the Constructors’ Championship could also be out of attain, there may be loads of potential for long-term development on the Grove-based group.
Carlos Sainz’s Father Spins Ferrari F1 Automobile Throughout Farewell Laps
Based on former Haas group principal Guenther Steiner, Williams has secured a “lottery win” by signing Carlos Sainz, whose race-winning expertise and deep data of automobile growth will likely be invaluable for a group working to enhance within the midfield.
Nonetheless, the journey is not going to be straightforward. New group principal James Vowles has acknowledged that the 2025 season will focus extra on studying and growth than rapid outcomes, with 2026 being seen because the 12 months to make important strides.
As a part of his farewell from Ferrari, Carlos Sainz and his father got the chance to drive two SF-75 vehicles across the legendary Fiorano check monitor. Ferrari’s press launch famous an amusing second in the course of the farewell laps when Carlos Sainz’s father spun the automobile, however he rapidly regained management and continued to finish laps with sturdy tempo: “Though he spun the automobile, Senior quickly discovered his rhythm, finishing a number of runs doing constant lap instances. At mid-morning, his son additionally went out on monitor, reacquainting himself with the automobile with which he took his maiden System 1 win on the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.” – Ferrari’s press launch revealed.
Is Lewis Hamilton a Stronger Choice for Ferrari Than Carlos Sainz?
Ferrari is at present adopting a “win now” mentality, having lastly developed a automobile able to competing persistently for the championship throughout a variety of circuits.
Traditionally, Ferrari has confronted challenges with automobile growth because the season progresses, however they seem to have overcome this hurdle, having taken the Constructors’ Championship battle all the way down to the wire at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this 12 months.
Whereas they weren’t as shut within the Drivers’ Championship combat, the addition of Mercedes’ star drivers, together with Lewis Hamilton, is anticipated to strengthen their probabilities on this space. Even Purple Bull’s Helmut Marko has praised Lewis Hamilton as “world-class,” acknowledging that the British driver has demonstrated for practically twenty years his means to win and relentlessly problem his rivals.
Constructing a profitable partnership will take time, and it’ll rely upon the Maranello group discovering a setup that fits Lewis Hamilton’s driving fashion. Nonetheless, if they can unlock that potential, it may propel the group to new heights.
This potential for fulfillment is probably going a key cause why the seven-time System 1 world champion selected the Italian aspect, and it could clarify why the group believes their possibilities of profitable are higher with him onboard in comparison with Carlos Sainz.