Carlos Sainz hopes that Williams’ empty-handed end to the Abu Dhabi finale becomes a crucial wake-up call, a nudge he believes will spark the team into the off-season with sharper focus. The Spaniard notes that, despite Williams’ solid overall momentum in 2025—finishing fifth in the Constructors’ standings and Sainz claiming two podiums, plus a Sprint podium in Austin—the late results arrived with minimal upgrades to the FW47. In Baku and Qatar, Sainz earned two podiums in his debut season with Grove, yet Abu Dhabi ended with a P13 after a tougher race where Lewis Hamilton advanced through the pack to push them down the order.
"We started 12th and remained the 12th-quickest car; without anything flashy happening in the race, we were always going to be stuck there. Hamilton’s pace shuffled us back to P13 for the finish," Sainz explained.
He added that the lack of pace this weekend should act as a constructive jolt for Williams, a reminder that even after a podium, Abu Dhabi can expose gaps. "I’m glad this happened because it means we head into the winter with our eyes open rather than letting complacency creep in."
Following his departure from Ferrari’s lineup, which saw him lose the seat to Hamilton, Sainz explored multiple options on the F1 grid. Williams’ chief, James Vowles, succeeded in convincing him to join the Grove-based outfit as they chart a path back toward the front.
Reflecting on his inaugural Williams season, Sainz acknowledged the early difficulties but emphasized the resilience built through them. "The first half of the year was undeniably challenging. Yet all that frustration—while we weren’t extracting results—became a driver for the later achievements. Even if we were quick and the adaptation went smoothly, that early frustration and points drought shaped our drive toward the podiums and the fifth place in the standings. I welcome that pressure because it underlined why this move made sense."
Looking back, he says the second half of the season validated the decision: the team proved their potential and the progress toward a future where Williams can compete at the front. "If someone had told me a year ago we’d secure podiums and finish fifth in the Constructors’, I’d have taken it. All things considered, it marks a highly positive first season with Williams."
