Carlos Sainz has insisted Williams’ resurgence in Formula 1 in 2025 has cemented the conviction that he made the right decision to choose the team 12 months ago.
Sainz’s arrival at Williams has coincided with an upturn that has culminated in the team picking up more points than it had over the previous three seasons combined.
However, Sainz has seldom had a chance to capitalise on Williams’ improvement with the FW47 as various issues outside his control have restricted him to 16 points.
Alex Albon has had a more seamless experience this season, though, with his 54-point total enough to have Williams residing fifth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Sainz, who was in high demand when it was revealed Lewis Hamilton would replace him at Ferrari, reckons that turnaround has vindicated his choice to pick Williams.
But outside the team’s competitiveness in the short-term exceeding his expectations, Sainz has also been encouraged by the progress being made behind the scenes.
“I definitely felt last year, when I took the decision, Williams was ninth in the championship and there was less certainty that maybe Williams was the right choice in my career,” Sainz recalled to media including Motorsport Week.
“Now I think a year on I’m very confident of the decision I took. I’m very glad looking at the progress the team is showing and the momentum we’re building into 26.
“Looking at everything that’s been done in the team in ’26, ’27, ’28 which is why I came to this team.
“I didn’t come to this team for the results of ’25. I came for the potential of ’26, ’27, ’28.
“I think the more I see what’s being done and the more I am with the team the better it looks.
“At the same time there’s a lot of things to work on and to improve as a team. There’s a very long list of things that we’re trying to get through and work on.
“I’m happy with that decision and I think we just need to keep our head down and at some point the results of ’25 will give momentum going into ’26.”
Sainz clear on Williams target for 2025
Williams still holds an 18-point cushion over the chasing pack, despite the team’s pace advantage diminishing as the competition has continued to improve their cars.
Sainz is striving to have a smoother end to the campaign to help the Grove-based squad go into the impending rules change as the closest rival to the leading quartet.
“For me, it would be, I think, as a team, a successful year to score fifth in the Championship and show massive progress,” the Spaniard added.
“Again, it would show a positive direction of the team, the gathering momentum into ’26 with all the big changes that are happening and everything that we are investing into ’26.
“For me, it’s important that even if I’m taking my time to adapt to the team and the car… I don’t think I took my time to adapt to the car, I think I was quite quick straight away.
“It’s just getting results and putting things together that has been a struggle since the beginning of the year.
“Still in Race 12, it doesn’t seem like we’re getting any better at putting things together, but it will come at some point.
“In the meantime, I’ll just keep my head down and I’m pretty sure the result is about to come.”
READ MORE – Why Williams harbours ‘shared frustration’ with Carlos Sainz over 2025 F1 setbacks
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