Carlos Sainz: « Waiting was exactly the right thing to do »

Carlos Sainz’s decision to join Williams for the next season was a surprise for Formula 1 fans. While the Spanish driver was in discussions with several teams, he ultimately chose the English team. A decision he carefully considered as his departure had been confirmed many months ago.

A closely monitored pilot

Carlos Sainz’s departure from Ferrari has sparked a lot of talk this season. While he was the only Ferrari driver to have won Grand Prix races in 2023 and 2024 at that time, the Italian team announced his departure at the end of the season. Replaced by Lewis Hamilton in 2025, the future of the driver was still uncertain until now. A few days ago, Carlos Sainz finally announced that he would join Williams for a minimum two-year contract. It marks the end of months of speculation about his future.

Carlos Sainz’s performances over the last two years have impressed many teams on the track. From established teams such as Mercedes and Alpine to upcoming Formula 1 debutants such as Audi, the Spaniard was one of the most eagerly awaited drivers for their teams. A situation that lasted a long time and caused numerous problems in the driver market. In fact, the former Ferrari driver isn’t the only one looking for a place next year. His compatriots, who wanted to fix their future before mid-season, were blocked by the wait Carlos Sainz left on the teams.

This situation had been regretted by Zhou Guanyu in Great Britain during the press conference on Thursday. “It’s hard to understand because it’s not so hard to make a decision,” the Chinese driver hinted. Finally, after several months of reflection, the market can resume for the last remaining drivers while Carlos Sainz has chosen his team. A choice that has also been applauded by his team. Yet, despite the criticism he may have received from other drivers, he remains convinced that waiting was the right decision.

Information collection for its future

Unlike many other drivers on the grid, Carlos Sainz had the opportunity to be courted by several teams after the announcement of his departure. A situation that the driver acknowledges to be privileged. “It is a privilege to be so well considered by these teams and to receive such positive feedback from them,” he said. “I almost feel honored to have this positive will from these teams and I can only thank them for their patience and willingness to sign me.”

As many teams like Mercedes have expressed their frustration at waiting for the Spanish driver’s response, this extended period of reflection was necessary for Carlos. He does not regret his choice. “The driver market has been very complex, a very complex situation, and that’s why I had to wait and see how the future of each team was shaping up. As you can see, every week gave me the feeling that I was right to wait, because every week, we learn something new about each team,” he told the media. “So even though I see that some fans and some media are becoming impatient, saying ‘why is he waiting so long?’, when you look at the market and when you look at each team, all the changes they have been through, it clearly shows that waiting was exactly the right thing to do.”

In the end, the exchanges with Carlos Sainz and the information he has gathered over the months seem to have confirmed his choice. As the Spanish driver can now start his summer break, he leaves with confidence in the decision he has taken the time to think about.