Leclerc and Norris believe Carlos Sainz’s return to the F1 front is inevitable, with Williams or another team paving his path.
Second in Abu Dhabi for his final Grand Prix with Ferrari, Carlos Sainz closed the chapter on his career in red and will hand his seat to Lewis Hamilton for next season. The Spanish driver is now set to embark on a new adventure with Williams F1, hitting the track with them as early as Monday.
Sainz is likely to face a much tougher season next year, as Williams is clearly not on Ferrari’s level at the moment. Is it unfair for a driver of his caliber to be forced to join a team competing in the lower half of the grid?
This question was posed to Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc on Sunday, the two drivers who shared the podium with Sainz. According to his now-former rivals, the Spanish driver will bring immense value to his new team, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s back at the front of the Formula 1 grid.
“Carlos is someone I know well,” said the McLaren F1 driver. “I started my Formula 1 career racing with him. I always knew he’d be up there and that he’d fight hard this weekend. In all my team meetings, I told the guys to watch out for Carlos, because I was ready for him to attack a lot and fight well. He’ll come back. Williams has improved a lot. They haven’t had someone with significant experience in a top-tier team. Carlos will certainly bring something extra and push the team forward. The team has undergone many changes over the past months and year. Even this year, Williams was very fast at times. I expect to see him back in the mix. I’m sure next year, Williams will take a big step forward from where they are now.”
“Perhaps as early as 2026, a year when anything can happen. Williams could suddenly be at the top. We’ll see. But it’s unfortunate, because I think Carlos has proven himself enough in Formula 1 to deserve a strong position. He deserves to fight for championships, victories, and that sort of thing, and it’s a shame to miss that opportunity. But it’s not because he lacks talent or capability, is it? It’s because the biggest name in Formula 1 wants his seat. And yes, we’ll see in the future what needs to be done. We’ll see how Lewis performs at Ferrari alongside Charles and against Charles. But Carlos has proven himself enough. I don’t think anyone should doubt him. I’m sure his time will come again, and he’ll help Williams fight to return to the top.”
Leclerc praises Sainz’s role in Ferrari’s progress
As for Charles Leclerc, whose relationship with Sainz hasn’t always been as straightforward as it may have seemed over the past four seasons, he is focused on highlighting all the positives the Spaniard has brought to Ferrari—and to himself as a driver.
“I fully agree with Lando. I think we’re probably the two best-placed people to talk about this, as we’ve both shared a team with Carlos for many years. And I can tell you, Carlos is incredibly talented. He has helped me improve in many areas, thanks to his work ethic, discipline, talent, and everything he brings. He’s an incredible teammate. I think the progress we’ve made over the past year and during these four years is largely thanks to Carlos. He’s been extremely quick.”
“In Formula 1, as Lando said, there are things that can’t really be explained. There’s also the luck of being in the right place at the right time, and Carlos truly deserves to be with a top team. But I’m confident it’s only a matter of time before he returns and joins us in fighting for victories. He’ll bring a lot to Williams because he’s incredibly sensitive to every small change and every little feeling in the car. I’m almost certain that, starting from testing, they’ll gain valuable insights that will help them next year.”
“But yes, I’ll definitely miss the battles with Carlos. We’ve had our moments on track, but only because we were fighting so closely and because he pushed me to my limits. And it’s been an absolute pleasure. Of course, in the heat of the moment, there’s frustration. But already now, looking back, I remember those times fondly. I wouldn’t be the driver I am today if he hadn’t been my teammate for the past four years. It’s been a great pleasure and four years I’ll remember in the most positive way. I wish him all the best. But as I said, I have no doubt he’ll be back at the front of the grid—whether with Williams, through his contributions, or with someone else. He deserves it. I think everyone knows that. It’s only a matter of time before he’s back.”
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, addressed rumors suggesting that his working relationship with Sainz had ended on acrimonious terms, putting those speculations to rest.
Earlier in Abu Dhabi, Leclerc had remarked that he “wouldn’t miss” Sainz.
“I’ve seen a lot of fake news in recent days. My words were taken out of context.”
“When I said that Carlos wouldn’t be missed, I only meant it because he’ll be just 20 meters away with Williams. I had an incredibly good relationship with Carlos—he’s such a great person, and we share a very strong bond.”
“It’s normal for there to have been some friction on the track, but those moments ultimately strengthened our good relationship and brought us closer.”
“We also have many things in common off the track, and even though he won’t be racing in red next year, I’m sure we’ll continue spending time together and traveling to races together.”
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Sainz Starts Fresh with Williams After Ferrari Farewell Sainz Starts Fresh with Williams After Ferrari Farewell f1 2024 Sainz Starts Fresh with Williams After Ferrari Farewell
