Sainz: I will bring Williams back to the top

A newly released video from Williams captures Sainz’s first visit to the team’s factory in England. Greeted by team principal James Vowles—who even spoke partly in Spanish—the Madrid-born driver addressed the assembled workforce and shared insights into his early days with the team.

Reflecting on his decision to leave Ferrari, Sainz made it clear that there is no lingering attachment to his former team. The 206-time Grand Prix participant explained: “At the beginning, when I had to make such an important decision about my future, I was very focused on which team would make the most significant progress in 2025. But eventually, I realised what my decision had to be based on—foresight and people.

"When I started discussing things in detail with James Vowles, I saw that he is building a very strong project here at Williams. He is forming a team with a vision that I believe will bring the racing team back to the top. It is this vision that made me fall in love with the project," explained the four-time Grand Prix winner.

Sainz also acknowledged how his instincts played a role in his career moves, drawing parallels with his past transition from McLaren to Ferrari at the end of 2020: “When I left McLaren for Ferrari, I thought that there were very good people at McLaren and that this team could become world champions in the medium term. McLaren promptly won the Constructors’ Cup in 2024, and I said to myself: OK, I have to trust my instincts at Williams.”

Sainz wasted no time getting involved with his new team, participating in a filming day at Yas Marina on the Monday following the 2024 season finale before joining the post-season Formula 1 test.

The Spaniard was particularly struck by the dedication and attitude of the Williams team, especially in the face of adversity. He praised the mechanics for their resilience after a challenging end to the season: “If I’m honest, what blew me away most was how motivated everyone at Williams was.

"Even at the end of a year where we all know the last few races were very tough. There was a lot of hard work in the factory and overtime at the track to get both cars running again after such a bad series of accidents," recalled Sainz.

Despite the exhausting triple-header that closed the season—Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—Sainz noted the team’s unwavering enthusiasm: “I met smiling faces everywhere. I saw people who wanted to get involved, who wanted to work together, who wanted to make the test as positive as possible.

"That really impressed me, and I really enjoyed those first two days. It was the perfect way to start the winter knowing that I have the full support of the whole Williams team," added Sainz, who is now fully embedded at Williams.

The team's attention turns to the 2025 Formula 1 season as the team looks to build on Vowles’ long-term vision and establish itself as a competitive force once more.