F1 News: Carlos Sainz Discusses His Decision to Join Williams F1 Team in 2025

Carlos Sainz has officially signed with the Williams F1 team for the 2025 season, a move he attributes to the team's promising direction under James Vowles' leadership.

After Lewis Hamilton's unexpected transfer to Ferrari created a ripple effect in the driver market, Sainz found himself considering several options, including Mercedes, Red Bull, Audi, and Williams.

Sainz's decision to join Williams was influenced by his positive interactions with the team and its management. He expressed confidence in the team's commitment to Formula 1 and its ambitious plans to restore Williams to its former glory.

He was quoted by Pit Pass saying "I've always had the feeling, during all those negotiations, I always had Williams in the back of my head as I always had that good feeling with James [Vowles] and the investment group Dorilton.

The Spanish driver is eager to contribute to the team's future success, drawing parallels between his past experiences at McLaren and Ferrari, where he recognized potential for growth.

"For me it was important people also. I've learned over the years in F1 to trust in my feelings about people, also, I remember when I left McLaren in 2020 I felt like the team was moving forward and was going to be successful in the future, having spent time working with Zak Brown and Andrea Stella.

"When I left McLaren, I said they might not be winning next year or the following year but this team with these people are going to be winning soon, four years later they're performing at an incredibly high level.

"I had this feeling at that time and now I have this feeling about the people and the culture in Williams, I need to trust that feeling, and this is what I committed to."

Sainz believes that the combination of strong leadership and a clear vision for the future makes Williams an exciting opportunity for him.

"It was very important, obviously he's the leader of the project and he has the vision and he shared that vision, and he convinced me."

As he prepares for this new chapter, Sainz looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead with Williams, confident that he can play a key role in the team's resurgence.

"He did a very good job in that sense into convincing me and into sharing the vision he has and the project he has in mind with me. I think we are relatively similar characters in that we are both very analytical, very fair and open, and he convinced me. It's as simple as that."