Williams driver Carlos Sainz says Charles Leclerc and his former Ferrari crew are “prepared” to win Formulation 1 titles this yr.
Sainz, who drove Williams’ new 2025 automotive at Silverstone on Friday, has been changed by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari following the most important driver transfer within the sport’s historical past.
Ferrari haven’t gained a title since their Constructors’ Championship triumph in 2008 and Kimi Raikkonen was their final drivers’ title winner in 2007.
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The Scuderia have been simply 14 factors behind McLaren within the constructors’ standings final yr because the title race went all the way down to the ultimate race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
“Let’s have a look at how everybody begins the yr however I keep in mind saying to all of the Ferrari folks once I left that they’re able to struggle for championships and win a championship this yr,” Sainz advised Sky Sports activities Information at Williams’ automotive launch.
“All the training processes that I am doing proper now with Williams, once I left Ferrari, the crew was bang on, good to go for it.
“I feel Charles, as a result of he is the one man I do know and I do not know Lewis personally or his driving and so forth., I do know Charles is able to struggle for a championship.”
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Williams crew principal James Vowles says he ‘welcomes’ the stress and scrutiny that Carlos Sainz becoming a member of the crew has caused
Sainz: Optimistic first impressions at Williams
Williams would be the fifth crew Sainz has pushed for since becoming a member of F1 in 2015, having beforehand had spells at Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari.
Sainz gained 4 races for Ferrari over the past three seasons, so Williams have a multiple-race-winning driver of their line-up for the primary time since Felipe Massa in 2017.
“I at all times say first impressions are crucial since you solely have one likelihood to make a primary impression,” Sainz mentioned.
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Carlos Sainz says that his first impressions of life at Williams are ‘very constructive’, and that he’s ‘joyful and simply desirous to go racing’
“And the primary impression I had again within the [2024 post-season] take a look at in Abu Dhabi, and the primary impression I had of the manufacturing facility and this FW47 was very constructive.
“I see folks filled with motivation, goodwill and happy with Williams to convey this crew ahead. We have now had an excellent winter and an excellent take a look at in Abu Dhabi, so I am joyful and I simply wish to go racing.”
Albon: Sainz will convey so much to the crew
Sainz is ready to supply Alex Albon his hardest team-mate problem because the London-born Thai driver was at Pink Bull alongside Max Verstappen in 2019 and 2020.
After a yr out from F1, Albon comfortably had the higher hand on Nicholas Latifi and Logan Sargeant however was pushed tougher by Franco Colapinto after the Argentine changed Sargeant for the latter levels of final season.
Albon was linked with some 2025 seats nearer the entrance of the grid earlier than they have been crammed, however finally signed a brand new cope with Williams.
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Alex Albon believes that the ‘course of Williams goes up’ and shares his ideas on simply how aggressive this season could possibly be for all of the drivers
Requested whether or not it could possibly be a make-or-break season for his profession, Albon mentioned: “I do not see it a lot like this, all or nothing type of fashion.
“In my head, it is nice to have Carlos on board – I feel he will convey so much to the crew. He is coming from a really robust yr, perhaps his strongest in Formulation 1, and I feel for me it is an awesome alternative.
“I’ve had drivers that have not had that popularity, whereas with Carlos I do know he does, so it is nice to go up towards.”
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