Why including to Williams’ F1 legacy could be Sainz’s “proudest second”

Historical past just isn’t misplaced on Carlos Sainz as he turns into the fourth driver in Formulation 1 to race for the Huge Three of Ferrari, McLaren and now Williams.

Sainz has turn into one thing of what pejoratively could be described as a journeyman, an excellent driver under absolutely the famous person degree who has regularly moved groups as a way to discover a everlasting residence to deploy his abilities, which in his case just isn’t solely his pace but in addition his technical nous and collaborative mentality which has made him an especially valued member at any of his earlier outfits.

Coming off the Purple Bull conveyor belt in one among its most efficient eras, Sainz opted to depart its satellite tv for pc staff Toro Rosso for 2 years at Renault, earlier than touchdown a McLaren drive in 2019. Two years later the potential of a dream Ferrari seat was unimaginable to show down, and his four-year stint on the Scuderia was not solely his longest for a single staff but in addition his most profitable, bagging 4 grand prix wins.

However Sainz’s Ferrari dream got here to a untimely finish because the Italian powerhouse grabbed the chance to dislodge Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, forming a mouthwatering partnership of F1’s most iconic staff with its most well-known and profitable driver.

The information was a blow to Sainz, who was then introduced with a variety of a lot much less fascinating midfield outfits to choose from. However he has since turned the web page, completed his Ferrari stint with dignity and accepted his new problem at Williams, the as soon as nice staff that’s going through an enormous rebuild underneath investor Dorilton Capital and led by staff principal James Vowles.

“The one factor I can let you know is I am very glad, I am very motivated, I am excited, I really feel supported,” Sainz stated after taking his new automobile for 2025, the Williams FW47, on a primary date round Silverstone on the staff’s formidable Valentine’s Day launch.

As anybody studying this may attest to, there’s nothing like feeling valued by your employer in any skilled stroll of life. And Vowles was completely determined to herald somebody of Sainz’s calibre for his racing pedigree, intimate information of Ferrari’s race-winning strategies and his cooperative character that’s certain to gel effectively with Alex Albon.

“I’ve a staff principal and a staff that absolutely trusts in my talents and that need to hearken to what I say, and I’ve confidence in my talents to assist the staff to maneuver ahead. I like Alex as a team-mate in how we will each push this staff ahead, so the entire challenge simply motivates me so much, and I am simply trying ahead.

“How a lot I’ll miss profitable or how jealous I can be of individuals which are preventing for positions that I was preventing for? I can’t say that but, however I can let you know that I am proud and glad to be a part of a staff like Williams and to hitch a challenge that the staff has trusted me to assist them in that restoration course of.”

Make no mistake about it. If Lewis Hamilton hadn’t felt the urge to depart Mercedes for a remaining alternative to race in purple and make a recent begin at Ferrari, and the Scuderia had introduced Sainz with a long-term contract extension, he would have signed it in a heartbeat.

However even when going to Williams wasn’t his first selection, and Sainz admitted he’s curious to learn the way he’ll cope going from preventing for podiums and wins to preventing for some extent, there’s an attraction to the as soon as profitable staff that stretches past its present capacities.

For newer F1 followers – good day and welcome – it could be more durable to think about, however lengthy earlier than Purple Bull and Mercedes confirmed up, Williams, Ferrari and McLaren had been the game’s undisputed Huge Three, leaving mere breadcrumbs for the competitors. Between 1974 and 2004 solely two different outfits managed to win the world constructors’ title, Lotus in 1978 with Mario Andretti and the late Ronnie Peterson, and the 1995 Benetton staff of Michael Schumacher and Johnny Herbert. Williams’ haul of 9 titles was solely not too long ago matched by McLaren final yr, joint second behind Ferrari’s towering tally of 16.

Complete generations of followers due to this fact grew up with Williams, Ferrari and McLaren ruling the roost. So did Sainz, who was glued to the TV display as a toddler in Madrid when Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya took the battle to Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher and McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, in what would show to be Williams’ most up-to-date stint as an everyday front-running staff, with a passion for F1 historical past undoubtedly handed on by his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr.

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47

Picture by: Williams

Little did Carlos Junior know that he would find yourself racing for all three, a feat solely three drivers managed earlier than him: Jacky Ickx, Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost.

Not the worst firm to be in, even when Williams’ circumstances are vastly totally different as we speak than they had been when Mansell and Prost muscled Williams’ Renault-powered automobiles to back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, simply earlier than Sainz was born.

However, whereas signing for Williams is an enormous step backwards for now, there’s a historic dimension to finishing the set of F1’s legacy Huge Three groups he’ll now have pushed for that’s not misplaced on the 30-year-old.

When requested by Motorsport.com in regards to the prospect of turning into the fourth driver to take action, he grinned: “I believe in the event you would have requested me once I was 10 years outdated and I began to fall in love with Formulation 1, which groups I might have beloved to drive for at some point, I might have undoubtedly picked these three.

“I am in my tenth yr in Formulation 1, and I am becoming a member of Williams at a vital second for Williams, the place it is going by means of some key modifications in its historical past. Nothing would make me happier and extra proud, and it will undoubtedly be the proudest second of my profession, if at some point I could be on a podium with this staff.

“I need to assist in that means of a historic staff. It is the second most profitable staff in Formulation 1 and being a part of that course of again to the highest of Formulation 1 is what motivates me. I believe you guys can inform I am glad. I really feel supported by this staff, and I believe that is hopefully going to deliver out one of the best model of myself.”

Sainz just isn’t alone in his affinity for the historical past of the game and Williams itself. Workforce boss Vowles says he is aware of the accountability of being a custodian of the Williams model and the legacy left by Sir Frank Williams, the staff’s iconic founder and pressure of nature who handed away in 2021.

“We completely have a accountability in the direction of the late Sir Frank,” Vowles stated. “I joined this staff as a result of it was the benchmark within the sport that redefines sure components for me and introduced me into the game. And that is why I am right here heading up Williams as we speak. It means one thing to me, one thing very deep and private.

“My purpose is solely to deliver this again to a championship degree and alongside the pathway, I need to ensure that we do good to Sir Frank, his identify and his legacy.”

There may be loads of proof to counsel Williams is no less than on the best way up, however solely time will inform if it goes all the best way to the highest once more. However nonetheless far it could go, alongside early adopter Albon it now has one other key determine in Sainz who will go away no stone unturned to get there. 

The tenacious and clever Spaniard is simply the kind of driver Sir Frank would have preferred.