Carlos Sainz has claimed that he would have signed the contract with Williams “even quicker” had he known the results the team would achieve in Formula 1 in 2025.
From the outset, the Williams FW47 was more competitive than its predecessor, but circumstances denied Sainz a chance to capitalise on that in the opening rounds.
However, Baku transpired to be a turning point as Sainz, who was languishing 18th in the standings going into that weekend, secured his debut podium with the team.
Since then, Sainz has equalled that third-place finish on two more occasions, with the Sprint Race in Austin and a surprise return to the rostrum in Qatar last weekend.
Those results have allowed Williams to clinch a top-five berth in the Constructors’ Championship – the team’s highest placing since 2017 – with an entire race to spare.
The Spaniard, who turned down Alpine and Audi/Sauber’s advances, has revealed that he would’ve put pen to paper earlier had such accolades been proposed to him.
“I think expectations are always high, but going into this year I tried to get them in check, knowing it was going to be a difficult year for me,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“Coming obviously from a top team, getting back into the midfield and not knowing exactly what kind of car Williams was going to deliver for this year.
“But honestly speaking, I think if you would have told me when I signed my Williams contract back in the summer of 2024 that this year there would be a podium, fifth in the Constructors, only a couple of tenths off the top teams in a lot of tracks, another podium in a Sprint, plenty of points for both Alex [Albon] and me… I think I would have signed even quicker.
“So, I think it’s a good first year – not perfect because we’ve gone through, like every midfield team, a lot of ups and downs.
“I’ve had to readapt myself back to racing a bit more in the midfield.
“And for sure, it hasn’t been a perfect year, but we’ve had a lot of good highlights and good moments, better moments than I would have probably even dreamed or wished for.”
Sainz hails Qatar podium as ‘proudest’ Williams moment
Sainz, who had envisaged Williams struggling to even score a point in Lusail, labelled his measured run to third place as his “proudest” moment with the team to date.
“I think it’s my proudest day in Williams,” he said. “Happiest? Maybe Baku, because I was just so happy to get my first podium for the team.
“I think I feel really proud of everyone. Just very proud of myself, but mainly the whole team for the weekend that we’ve executed.
“And, yeah, more proud than happy. And obviously, also happy.”
READ MORE – Carlos Sainz reveals how Williams defied internal odds to score shock F1 Qatar GP podium
Discussion about this post