Carlos Sainz has expressed that Williams’ competitiveness in the 2025 Formula 1 season has surpassed the expectations that he held when he signed with the team.
Williams’ excellent start to the current campaign has continued at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix as both Sainz and team-mate Alex Albon qualified inside the top 10.
Having started inside the top five at the previous round in Miami, Sainz astonished onlookers at Imola when he headed the timesheets in Q2 to secure his place in Q3.
But while he was unable to replicate those exploits in the last session, the Spaniard still posted a time that was good enough to take sixth as Albon managed seventh.
The Grove-based squad’s consistent presence inside the upper echelons marks a stark contrast to last season, when the team struggled with an overweight package.
Sainz, who turned down proposals elsewhere to head to Williams once his Ferrari chapter ended, has admitted the FW47’s potential has exceeded what he envisaged.
Asked whether the competitiveness is better than he anticipated, Sainz told media including Motorsport Week: “Yes, I can confirm that.
“I knew there was going to be an improvement from the team.
“Obviously, that’s why I signed also, because I saw some numbers and the people, everyone was optimistic.
“And I said, I’m going to trust my instinct going to Williams with the people that I see, but also some of the numbers that I saw on the wind tunnel.
“And I feel very proud, honestly, of everyone back in the factory and everyone in the team, because [if] you would have told me when I signed for Williams a year ago that I would be P1 in Q2, looking at where one of the Red Bulls, two Ferraris and a Mercedes is, I’m fighting them neck and neck, week in, week out. Now Miami and Imola is very, very good progress.”
Sainz not ‘scared’ by Williams race prospects
Sainz revealed that he is aiming to beat compatriot Fernando Alonso, who will line up in fifth spot as he managed to pip the Williams duo in the updated Aston Martin.
But with two Ferraris and Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes bidding to recover ground, Sainz has recognised that he has a battle on his hands to preserve his position.
“We have a good quali car. The race pace yesterday wasn’t bad,” he assessed.
“If you look at my race pace, we were in the mix. Not at the level of the McLarens or Mercedes when they are putting everything together, but within the mix, so we will see.
“It doesn’t scare me, but we might need to look a bit in the mirrors, and if possible, we will look a bit ahead.”
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