Why adding to Williams’ F1 legacy would be Sainz’s “proudest moment”

Historical past just isn’t misplaced on Carlos Sainz as he turns into the fourth driver in System 1 to race for the Massive Three of Ferrari, McLaren and now Williams.

Sainz has grow to be one thing of what pejoratively could be described as a journeyman, an excellent driver beneath absolutely the famous person stage who has regularly moved groups so as to discover a everlasting dwelling to deploy his abilities, which in his case just isn’t solely his pace but additionally his technical nous and collaborative mentality which has made him an especially valued member at any of his earlier outfits.

Coming off the Pink Bull conveyor belt in considered one of its most efficient eras, Sainz opted to go away its satellite tv for pc staff Toro Rosso for 2 years at Renault, earlier than touchdown a McLaren drive in 2019. Two years later the opportunity of a dream Ferrari seat was not possible to show down, and his four-year stint on the Scuderia was not solely his longest for a single staff but additionally his most profitable, bagging 4 grand prix wins.

However Sainz’s Ferrari dream got here to a untimely finish because the Italian powerhouse grabbed the chance to dislodge Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, forming a mouthwatering partnership of F1’s most iconic staff with its most well-known and profitable driver.

The information was a blow to Sainz, who was then offered with a spread of a lot much less fascinating midfield outfits to select from. However he has since turned the web page, finished his Ferrari stint with dignity and accepted his new problem at Williams, the as soon as nice staff that’s going through an enormous rebuild beneath investor Dorilton Capital and led by staff principal James Vowles.

“The one factor I can inform you is I am very pleased, I am very motivated, I am excited, I really feel supported,” Sainz mentioned after taking his new automobile for 2025, the Williams FW47, on a primary date round Silverstone on the staff’s bold Valentine’s Day launch.

As anybody studying this will attest to, there’s nothing like feeling valued by your employer in any skilled stroll of life. And Vowles was completely determined to herald somebody of Sainz’s calibre for his racing pedigree, intimate information of Ferrari’s race-winning strategies and his cooperative persona that’s sure to gel nicely with Alex Albon.

“I’ve a staff principal and a staff that totally trusts in my talents and that need to hearken to what I say, and I’ve confidence in my talents to assist the staff to maneuver ahead. I like Alex as a team-mate in how we will each push this staff ahead, so the entire challenge simply motivates me so much, and I am simply wanting ahead.

“How a lot I’ll miss profitable or how jealous I shall be of individuals which might be combating for positions that I was combating for? I can’t say that but, however I can inform you that I am proud and pleased to be a part of a staff like Williams and to affix a challenge that the staff has trusted me to assist them in that restoration course of.”

Make no mistake about it. If Lewis Hamilton hadn’t felt the urge to go away Mercedes for a closing alternative to race in crimson and make a recent begin at Ferrari, and the Scuderia had offered Sainz with a long-term contract extension, he would have signed it in a heartbeat.

However even when going to Williams wasn’t his first alternative, and Sainz admitted he’s curious to learn the way he’ll cope going from combating for podiums and wins to combating for some extent, there’s an attraction to the as soon as profitable staff that stretches past its present capacities.

For newer F1 followers – good day and welcome – it may be more durable to think about, however lengthy earlier than Pink Bull and Mercedes confirmed up, Williams, Ferrari and McLaren have been the game’s undisputed Massive Three, leaving mere breadcrumbs for the competitors. Between 1974 and 2004 solely two different outfits managed to win the world constructors’ title, Lotus in 1978 with Mario Andretti and the late Ronnie Peterson, and the 1995 Benetton staff of Michael Schumacher and Johnny Herbert. Williams’ haul of 9 titles was solely lately matched by McLaren final 12 months, joint second behind Ferrari’s towering tally of 16.

Complete generations of followers subsequently grew up with Williams, Ferrari and McLaren ruling the roost. So did Sainz, who was glued to the TV display as a baby in Madrid when Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya took the struggle to Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher and McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, in what would show to be Williams’ most up-to-date stint as an everyday front-running staff, with a passion for F1 historical past undoubtedly handed on by his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr.

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47

Photograph by: Williams

Little did Carlos Junior know that he would find yourself racing for all three, a feat solely three drivers managed earlier than him: Jacky Ickx, Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost.

Not the worst firm to be in, even when Williams’ circumstances are vastly totally different right this moment than they have been when Mansell and Prost muscled Williams’ Renault-powered vehicles to back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, simply earlier than Sainz was born.

Nonetheless, whereas signing for Williams is a large step backwards for now, there’s a historic dimension to finishing the set of F1’s legacy Massive Three groups he’ll now have pushed for that’s not misplaced on the 30-year-old.

When requested by Motorsport.com concerning the prospect of changing into the fourth driver to take action, he grinned: “I feel if you happen to would have requested me once I was 10 years outdated and I began to fall in love with System 1, which groups I might have cherished to drive for sooner or later, I might have positively picked these three.

“I am in my tenth 12 months in System 1, and I am becoming a member of Williams at an important second for Williams, the place it is going by way of some key adjustments in its historical past. Nothing would make me happier and extra proud, and it could positively be the proudest second of my profession, if sooner or later I will be on a podium with this staff.

“I need to assist in that technique of a historic staff. It is the second most profitable staff in System 1 and being a part of that course of again to the highest of System 1 is what motivates me. I feel you guys can inform I am pleased. I really feel supported by this staff, and I feel that is hopefully going to convey out the very best model of myself.”

Sainz just isn’t alone in his affinity for the historical past of the game and Williams itself. Workforce boss Vowles says he is conscious about the accountability of being a custodian of the Williams model and the legacy left by Sir Frank Williams, the staff’s iconic founder and power of nature who handed away in 2021.

“We completely have a accountability in the direction of the late Sir Frank,” Vowles mentioned. “I joined this staff as a result of it was the benchmark within the sport that redefines sure parts for me and introduced me into the game. And that is why I am right here heading up Williams right this moment. It means one thing to me, one thing very deep and private.

“My objective is just to convey this again to a championship stage and alongside the pathway, I need to be certain we do good to Sir Frank, his title and his legacy.”

There may be loads of proof to counsel Williams is not less than on the way in which up, however solely time will inform if it goes all the way in which to the highest once more. However nonetheless far it could go, alongside early adopter Albon it now has one other key determine in Sainz who will go away no stone unturned to get there. 

The tenacious and clever Spaniard is simply the kind of driver Sir Frank would have preferred.