Carlos Sainz Jr: “My father is fully convinced that Audi will be strong in the future”
The Spaniard, who will be leaving Ferrari at the end of the season, revealed the difficult choice he had to make to find a new team. While his father envisaged him joining Audi, Sainz made a different decision, as he will be a Williams driver in 2025.
It’s a decision that surprised many. While several teams were interested in his profile after his departure from Ferrari to make way for Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz ultimately opted for Williams, led by James Vowles. A decision that contrasts with the initial rumors strongly associating him with Audi, a manufacturer ready to enter Formula 1 in 2026 with the new regulations.
Williams rather than Audi
The connection between Sainz and Audi seemed obvious. His father, Carlos Sainz Sr., a double World Rally Champion, has a close relationship with the German manufacturer, having notably won the Dakar this year with an Audi RS Q e-tron E2. However, the Spanish driver’s choice went elsewhere. Carlos Sainz has explained the reasons behind his decision in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.
« It was not an easy decision. Until the day I signed, I had several good options. In the end, I followed my instinct. I have immense respect for the Audi brand. My father repeated to me a thousand times how good they will be performing. He is 100% convinced that Audi will be strong in the future. » The Spaniard is realistic: he knows that Audi will not be immediately competitive upon entering Formula 1. In search of quick results, he turned to Williams, a team on the rise under the leadership of James Vowles.
(e) Even if I wanted to contribute to building something, I also wanted to achieve good short-term results. In my opinion, Williams was the best option. I stand by this decision. Time will tell if I was right. My instinct told me that this project with James Vowles was the best short- and medium-term solution.
Although Williams’ decision differs from his father’s advice, Sainz Jr. continues to value his support. He remains my greatest support, and I know I can count on his advice. However, he only intervenes when I need him, which is much rarer than before. This diminishes every year. The three-time Grand Prix winner also mentions the important conversations he has had with his father:
After Singapore, for example, I asked him for his opinion. He has a global vision that helps me enormously. When I get too caught up in the details, he provides valuable perspective.
Bitterness in the face of the lack of interest from top teams.
Furthermore, Carlos Sainz admits he was affected by the lack of interest from major teams like Mercedes, which preferred to bet on their young driver Kimi Antonelli, or Red Bull, who chose to extend Sergio Pérez’s contract early in the season. It hurt me at the time. We all have egos, and I have a driver’s ego. At the time, I couldn’t understand some of the decisions made by these teams. However, he assures that this period now belongs to the past:
« I have definitely made peace with that. If I don’t go there, it’s because life doesn’t want me to be there. There is something else waiting for me, and it will turn out to be a good thing.
A new chapter at Williams
Sainz now says he is fully focused on his future with Williams. It is the team that has invested in me, supported me from the start. They came to get me a year ago already, and that makes me extremely excited. I want to give back to these guys what they gave me, give back to them this confidence and belief in me.
With his experience and talent, Sainz hopes to contribute to the revival of Williams, a historic team that aspires to reach the top of the championship again. This challenge reminds him of his key role in the rebuilding of McLaren in 2019.
In the meantime, the Spaniard still has to honor his last three commitments with Ferrari before trading the red tunic for the blue of Grove.
