Sainz already planning to improve Williams on final Ferrari laps

Carlos Sainz admits he was already planning on the best way to make Williams quicker by remembering the sensation of his Ferrari as he completed second on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Spaniard will likely be changed by Lewis Hamilton subsequent yr and has agreed to hitch Williams, the place as a substitute of competing for race wins, the preliminary problem will likely be to show the group into one which scores factors frequently.

Sainz received two races in 2024 however, alongside Charles Leclerc, was unable to ship the constructors’ championship for Ferrari, which was overwhelmed by McLaren by simply 14 factors.

As Sainz aimed to catch race winner Lando Norris, he conceded that his thoughts had already began turning to the best way to enhance Williams when he arrives in Grove.

Requested if it was onerous to maneuver on so rapidly, Sainz replied: “Being very sincere with you, I do not suppose so. I believe, I am not going to lie, my final laps, as a lot as I used to be pushing like hell for this group and attempting to, I used to be already beginning to really feel issues within the automotive and attempting to say, ‘bear in mind how this feels’.

“As a result of tomorrow and Tuesday I would like to recollect, why is that this automotive fast on this nook and why does it really feel good? As a result of I do know in all probability what I’ll discover tomorrow, and Tuesday wants some margin of enchancment within the corners that I used to be feeling the automotive. So this simply sums up that I am already trying additionally forward.

“I am extraordinarily motivated for the problem that I’ve forward of me. Right now is a day to try to get pleasure from as a lot as doable with the group as my final day in pink.

Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos

“We nonetheless have some days in Maranello arising, however clearly my aggressive thoughts is already trying ahead to Monday and Tuesday and to see how I could make that Williams automotive quicker.”

Williams struggled on the again finish of the season, taking only one level from the ultimate six races of the yr and ending ninth within the standings with solely Sauber behind them.

Not since George Russell’s second place on the truncated 2021 Belgium Grand Prix has Williams had a driver on the rostrum, and Sainz admits he can not assure the subsequent time.

“That may be a query that I can not reply,” he added.

“It is not possible to foretell the long run, not possible to know the way lengthy it is going to take me and Williams to be again preventing for podium positions.

“I believe James [Vowles, Williams team principal] mentioned it the opposite day and calmed everybody’s expectations, that subsequent yr goes to be a troublesome yr and a studying yr earlier than we put together for the change of rules in ‘26, the place I consider the group is investing and the group is getting ready to maximise that likelihood.

“What I can let you know is that I am as decided as ever to assist that group to be again the place it belongs. I personally really feel like I belong to be preventing for wins, podiums and high fives in System 1. I believe I’ve confirmed it these final 4 years as a driver. I believe I belong to that. However Williams can not neglect that Williams additionally belongs to preventing for these high 5 and podium locations.

“And along with the willpower and the power that I believe we will present collectively, the goal is to get Williams and myself preventing for these positions within the close to future, within the nearest future. How lengthy that is going to take, I can not let you know.”