Carlos Sainz has made the best possible start to his Williams Formula 1 debut, topping the morning session of the post-season Abu Dhabi test.
Sainz got his first taste of the Williams FW46 on Monday as he participated in a filming day for the Grove-based F1 outfit at the Yas Marina Circuit.
He was able to complete seven laps during his initial sampling of the FW46, setting a fastest time of 1:26.484s.
The Spaniard already said post-race on Sunday that in his final laps for Ferrari, finishing second in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he was trying to remember as much information as possible to help his new employer.
“I’m not going to lie, my last laps, as much as I was pushing like hell for this team and trying to, I was already starting to feel things in the car and trying to say, ‘remember how this feels,'” he said in the post-race press conference.
“Because tomorrow and Tuesday I need to remember, why is this car quick in this corner and why does it feel good?”
Wearing a white race suit and overalls on Tuesday morning, just as he did throughout Monday’s running, Sainz ensured he was amongst the first out of the pitlane.
The Spaniard clocked 60 laps of Yas Marina in the morning segment of the post-season test, going quickest with a time of 1:24.435s.
Sainz joined by Luke Browning at in Abu Dhabi test
Sainz is joined in post-season testing duties by Williams Academy Driver Luke Browning.
Browning, who finished third in this year’s FIA F3 Championship and will fight for the F2 championship next year with Hitech, got his first taste of the FW46 in FP1 of the Abu Dhabi GP.
The 22-year-old also got mileage in the morning session of Tuesday’s test, going ninth fastest with a 1:25.409s time.
As a rookie, Browning is allocated the 2024 specification of Pirelli tyres for the test and will be able to use the C3, C4 and C5 compounds.
Unlike in previous years, teams are allowed to run two cars, meaning Sainz won’t need to share with Browning.
As a race driver, the Spaniard is using 10 sets of the new 2025 Pirelli tyres: one C2, three each of the C3 and C4, two C5 and one of the new ultra-soft C6.
Carlos Sainz wants to bring Williams back to the front of F1
Immediately after his final race for Ferrari came to a close, Sainz set out his target for 2025 and beyond in the parc ferme interviews.
“My target is from next year onwards, focus together with Williams to get back to where we belong together.”
The Spaniard has plenty of work to do with Williams finishing ninth in the 2024 Constructors’ standings with 17 points.
Sainz is on a multi-year deal with the Grove-based outfit and will partner Alex Albon in 2025, ’26 and beyond.
Williams Team Principal James Vowles has been boastful of his new lineup.
The Williams boss has gone on record saying: “In ’25, I think we will have the best driver line-up on the grid.”
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