How much Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is already involved in the development at Williams for the 2025 Formula One season before his move
Carlos Sainz will remain a Ferrari driver at least until December 8, 2024. It is only during the test drives following the Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi that the Spaniard could get the opportunity to officially join Williams at the earliest – provided that Ferrari gives him the go-ahead. But Sainz is already at least partially involved in the Williams development for 2025.
At least that’s what Williams driver Alexander Albon says in an interview with Motorsport.com Brazil,
It’s about “where the car stands” in the technical development for 2025, Albon explains. Because Williams is “already very focused on next year’s car. But that’s always the case at this time of year. In principle, we’ve already implemented all the updates for the current year,” says Albon.
However, contact with Sainz had already existed before the current discussions: “We had already talked before he signed the contract. He wanted to know where the team stands.”
What Albon expects from Sainz
And Albon wants to know what Sainz thinks of the processes at Williams and the approach of the English traditional team. In a previous interview, Albon said he was looking forward to Sainz’s “fresh eyes” and experience. “Coming from a top team always helps,” he says.
Sainz himself, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated that he will not consider Williams until after the 2024 season. In the summer, for example, he said that there would be “plenty of time” for all sorts of considerations and discussions then. However, he definitely wants to be “heard” at Williams and is going to Grove in England with the “feeling that I can help”. Because Sainz wants to “bring Williams back to the front”.
However, the decision in favor of Williams was not an easy one for Sainz: for months, the Spaniard wrestled with himself and considered various options. Sainz was particularly popular with Audi and was long considered the favorite for the cockpit next to Nico Hülkenberg. This particular seat has still not been filled for 2025.