Carlos Sainz made his debut with Williams in Abu Dhabi

The Spaniard will join Williams next year after leaving Ferrari to allow seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to join the Italian team in a spectacular transfer from Mercedes.

Before the collective post-season tests scheduled for Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, Carlos Sainz completed his first laps at the wheel of the Williams FW46 on the Yas Marina circuit. Williams chose to use its second and final filming day of the year to give Sainz an early opportunity to get familiar with their current car.

The session started at 4 p.m. local time and lasted for a two-hour time slot. In accordance with the strict F1 regulations regarding filming days, Sainz was limited to 200 km of running, equivalent to 38 laps in Abu Dhabi, using unspecified tires provided by Pirelli.

This allowed Sainz to have a little more time to integrate into Williams , before the end-of-season official tests, where he will also drive for his new team.

Sainz turned towards the Williams project.

Sainz, who won two races for Ferrari in 2024, admitted that he was already thinking about how to help Williams improve their car during the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. “I won’t lie, in my final laps, even though I was pushing to the maximum for this team, I started to feel things in the car and telling myself, ‘Remember how you feel,'” said Sainz.

« Because tomorrow and Tuesday, I will have to remember why this car is fast in this turn and why it feels good. Because I probably know what I will find tomorrow, and Tuesday, there will be a need to improve some aspects in the turns that I feel today. This sums up the fact that I am already focused on the future.

« I am extremely motivated for the challenge that awaits me. Today is a day to try to make the most of the team, as it is my last day in red.

« We still have a few days left in Maranello, but obviously, my competitive spirit is already focused on Monday and Tuesday to see how to make this Williams faster.

Carlos Sainz on track for Williams ahead of #F1Testing. pic.twitter.com/oUb8NE3MPZ

— Phillip Horton (@PHortonF1) December 9, 2024

A possibility of a podium?

He acknowledges that it is impossible to know when he will step onto a podium again. « It is impossible to predict the future, impossible to know how long it will take me and Williams to come back and fight for positions on the podium. »

« I think that James [Vowles, Team Principal of Williams] said it the other day to temper everyone’s expectations: next year will be a tough year of learning before we prepare for the regulation changes in 2026, where I believe the team is investing and getting ready to maximize this opportunity», he added.

« What I can tell you is that I am as determined as ever to help this team get back to where it belongs. Personally, I believe my place is to fight for wins, podiums, and top 5 finishes in F1. I think I have proven that over the past four years as a driver. I believe I belong there. But Williams must not forget that Williams also belongs in those top 5 and podium positions. »

Together, with the determination and strength that we will show, the goal is to bring Williams and myself back to fight for these positions in the near future. How long this will take, I cannot tell you.