Carlos Sainz reflects on his rocky Williams start, saying pre-season speed misled fans into expecting instant results he couldn’t deliver.
Carlos Sainz has opened up about the high expectations surrounding his move to Williams, saying his impressive testing form may have given fans and pundits the wrong idea about how quickly he’d settle into his new team.
The Spaniard was the talk of pre-season testing after topping the timesheets, which naturally sparked buzz about what he could do straight out of the gate. But reality has been more complicated.
Australia, China, and Japan were challenging weekends for Sainz, who admits he’s still getting to grips with the FW47. His most promising showing so far came in Bahrain – notably, the track where he had the most seat time before the season began.
“I expected it would take a bit of time to get into a rhythm with this car,” Sainz said when reflecting on his start to 2025. “But I was really fast in testing and in Abu Dhabi, so people were excited about what I could do with Williams.”
“To be honest, I felt good going into the season, especially in early sessions in Australia. But once I started pushing the car to the limit, I began to notice the gaps in my understanding – especially in Australia, China, and Japan.”
Sainz insists the situation isn’t as bad as the results make it seem.
“I don’t think we’re that far off. This happens when drivers switch teams. The more experience and success you have, the more people expect you to be quick right away. In a way, that’s a compliment. But after testing, I was the first one to say, ‘I won’t be this fast right away – I’ve got a lot to learn.’”
“It’s not ideal, of course. I want to be scoring points. But honestly, I knew this would take time. If it takes me three more races, then so be it. What matters is reaching the level I know I’m capable of.”
The former Ferrari driver says the process has already helped him become more aware of his own strengths, weaknesses, and what he needs to bring to the table to help move the team forward.
“We’ve already made progress in areas I felt the team was lacking. And we’ve found ways I can adapt better to the car. There’s still work to do. Some things I haven’t fully figured out yet – others we just don’t have in place right now.”
Looking ahead, Sainz is optimistic about where Williams is headed, especially with major changes on the horizon.
“2025 is already a step forward, but 2026 could be huge for this team. We’ve got a new simulator coming – and the current one isn’t really up to modern F1 standards. That’s going to help us a lot.”
“With all the new hires, the good energy in the factory, and a clearer direction, I see real potential here.”
He also praised his teammate Alex Albon, who has been consistently strong so far this season.
“Working with Alex has been great. He’s a really good guy, but more importantly, he’s quick. I think he’s performing at his best this year. He’s made a step forward.”
“He’s putting together strong weekends. I’m confident I’ll be right up there with him once I find my rhythm.”
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Sainz Admits Williams Switch Harder Than Expected Sainz Admits Williams Switch Harder Than Expected