Carlos Sainz bids an emotional goodbye to Ferrari after his final Grand Prix, closing one chapter and bracing for Williams F1’s challenge.
Carlos Sainz delivered a stellar performance in his final Formula 1 Grand Prix behind the wheel of a Ferrari, finishing second in the race after briefly applying pressure on Lando Norris.
Unfortunately, this strong result, combined with the podium finish of his teammate Charles Leclerc, was not enough for Scuderia Ferrari to overtake McLaren F1 in the championship. The Spanish driver admitted to having “mixed feelings.”
“We all approached this race aiming to win the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren had a very strong weekend. Lando didn’t put a foot wrong throughout the race and the entire weekend. In the end, I congratulate them because they deserve it. On my side, I tried everything I could to stay within reach of McLaren. Before the race, we knew McLaren might have one or two-tenths of an advantage over us, and that was enough, you know, to gain a slight edge before the pit stops or during the race, creating a buffer and avoiding too much pressure.”
“I think I had a very good first stint, managing to keep them within striking distance and maintaining the pressure margins, especially when I was told Charles was making a good recovery. Oscar obviously had that incident on the first lap, and I thought we might have a chance, but little by little, it started slipping away. When we switched to the hard tires, as we’ve seen in many cases this year, McLaren increased their pace and began gaining two to three-tenths per lap, which gave them that safety margin to bring the car home. On our side, I think we did everything we could. Charles and I gave it our all this weekend. It wasn’t an easy weekend for me, obviously, knowing it was the last. But I did my best to stay focused and maximize my performance.”
What did Sainz feel driving the red car for the last time?
“It was strange. I’m a bit emotional, I won’t lie. I knew it would be my last race with a group of people I’ve enjoyed working with over the past four years. It was probably the last time I stepped into a Ferrari car, and I felt very emotional. I tried to remind myself to enjoy the race as much as possible and give my maximum for this team.”
Ferrari has a “very good chance” of winning the title in 2025 with Leclerc.
When Carlos Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021, he had no F1 victories and just two podiums. He leaves the Scuderia with four wins and 25 additional trophies to his name.
“I’m obviously very proud of my time at Ferrari. I’m proud to have contributed over these four years to bringing this team back to where it belongs—in contention for the World Championship. Unfortunately, we didn’t succeed this year, but I feel Ferrari is now ready to fight for the World Championship next year. And with Charles, I honestly believe they have a very good chance, and for me, they are one of the favorites for next season.”
“As for me, I’m proud of these four years, but perhaps even more so of this last year. It was very mentally challenging and demanding with the news at the start of the year, maintaining motivation, determination, and continuing to push throughout a 24-race calendar without letting myself get discouraged at times. I think it was a big challenge that I managed to tackle with strength and determination to finish the year strongly, with some podiums, a victory in Mexico, and helping the team dream of the Constructors’ title. We’ve seen it’s not easy for another driver leaving a team to keep that focus and motivation throughout the year. And I managed to do it.”
Despite the stakes and the fact it was his last race for Ferrari, Sainz appeared to stay in control of his emotions—or so it seemed. Was that truly the case?
“I was emotional at one point on Sunday. I’m not going to tell you exactly when or how. It’s a feeling I’ll keep to myself and my team. And yes, maybe it’s a bit of acting, and I pretend not to be emotional at all. I’ve learned from Brad Pitt, who was here this weekend. I don’t know. What I can say is, I was emotional. It’s just that there was too much work to do and too much to fight for. Your brain doesn’t allow you to be emotional because you care more about winning and giving the team a Constructors’ Championship than your own emotions. Let’s say your competitiveness takes over. But there were moments when I was emotional, and luckily, you didn’t see it.”
Sainz “eagerly anticipates” the Williams F1 challenge.
With the Ferrari chapter now behind him, Carlos Sainz can fully focus on the new phase of his career at Williams F1. He is already behind the wheel of the FW46 today at Yas Marina Circuit for a private session ahead of tomorrow’s tests, giving him an early opportunity to adapt to his new environment. The Grove-based team will undoubtedly rely on his experience to advance in the coming seasons.
“I’m extremely motivated by the challenge ahead. I tried to make the most of my last day in red. We still have a few days left at Maranello, but my mind is already set on the future and on making the Williams faster.”
After his podium in Abu Dhabi, is the Spanish driver prepared for a possible trophy drought?
“That’s a question I can’t answer. It’s impossible to predict the future, impossible to know how long it will take for Williams and me to fight for podiums again. I think James Vowles said it the other day and tempered everyone’s expectations—that next year will be a challenging year, a year of learning as we prepare for the regulatory changes in 2026. I believe the team is investing and gearing up to make the most of that opportunity. What I can tell you is that I’m more determined than ever to help this team reclaim its rightful place.”
“Personally, I believe my place is fighting for victories, podiums, and top-five finishes in Formula 1. I think I’ve proven that over the past four years as a driver. That’s where I belong. But Williams must also remember its place in the fight for top-five positions and podiums. With the determination and strength I believe we’ll demonstrate together, the goal is to have Williams and myself fighting for those positions in the near future. I can’t tell you how long it will take.”
“But as I’ve said before, I don’t think people realize just how motivated and eager I am to take on this challenge. I know it’s one of my strengths: helping a team improve and charting the right course forward. It truly excites me to have an entire team behind Alex Albon and me, all pushing in the same direction to make a historic team like Williams competitive again. It’s a challenge that’s hard to put into words, but some people don’t understand just how much I’m looking forward to it.”
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Sainz’s Emotional Ferrari Farewell, Williams Awaits Sainz’s Emotional Ferrari Farewell, Williams Awaits Sainz’s Emotional Ferrari Farewell, Williams Awaits. F1 Sainz’s Emotional Ferrari Farewell, Williams Awaits
