Carlos Sainz has opened up on his decision to join Williams for the 2025 campaign, explaining that “the project and the people” were the key factors that made him “immediately fall in love” with the team.
Sainz was central to last year’s driver market following the bombshell pre-season announcement that seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton would be replacing him as Charles Leclerc’s team mate at Ferrari.
Almost every team was linked with the Spaniard’s services but, following months of speculation over where he might end up, Williams won the race and signed him to a multi-year deal alongside Alex Albon.
During a preparatory visit to the Williams factory in Grove, England, Sainz took some time out for a staff Q&A session fronted by team boss James Vowles – with the first big question being what convinced him about Williams’ prospects.
Sainz has switched to Williams after four seasons racing with Ferrari
“You might have seen me in some interviews mention it before, but for me, what was fundamental was not so much the short-term,” said Sainz, as he opened up on his decision-making process.
“At the beginning, when I was having to take such an important decision, I was very focused on which team was going to be quicker in 2025, who was generating more downforce, who is finding out stuff that is going to make them quicker.
“Finally, I realised that my decision had to be based on two things: the project and the people.
“When I started discussing more in detail with James, I realised that he had put together a very strong project here in Williams. He was forming a team, with a vision, with a project, together with [team owners] Dorilton, that I think is going to bring this team back to the front.
“[There is] very strong leadership and a vision that immediately made me, let’s say, fall in love with the project, and trust his leadership. Then I say people, but it’s part of the same thing.”
Sainz, who has also raced for Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls), Renault and McLaren in F1, making more than 200 starts and winning four Grands Prix, added: “I remember when I left McLaren, I really thought there were really good people there, and that team could be World Champions in the future.
“McLaren ended up being World Champions last year and I said, ‘Okay, I need to trust my instinct.’ I know Williams have a good project, they have the backing, and they have good people. In the end, this combination of two things made me really believe in Williams and come and join you guys.”
READ MORE: Horner explains why Red Bull didn’t move for Sainz when he was on the market
Having first appeared for Williams at the 2024 post-season test in Abu Dhabi, Sainz recently got some more mileage under his belt in the 2023-specification FW45 in Barcelona as part of a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) run.
Williams will launch their 2025 car in a bespoke one-off livery on February 14, before the full colour scheme is unveiled during F1’s season launch event at London’s The O2 four days later.
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