Carlos Sainz, currently racing for Williams in Formula 1, has shared insights into how his perspective changed when competing against Lewis Hamilton, one of his childhood idols. The shift came after years of watching Hamilton, now seen through the lens of a rival rather than a role model.
From Admiration to Rivalry with Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, who debuted in F1 in 2007, and Fernando Alonso, a two-time World Champion starting his career in 2001, remain the most experienced drivers on the grid. Sainz recalled that he began watching Formula 1 at age 12, during which time Hamilton was already a prominent figure. Initially, Sainz admired Hamilton, but as their careers overlapped, competition took precedence.
For me, honestly, it’s because he’s my competitor, but if I were not in F1, he would be one of my idols,
Sainz revealed in an interview on BBC Radio 1.
I was 12 years old, and that’s when I started watching Formula 1, when he was racing Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and everyone. He used to be one of my idols and one of the people that I looked up to, but now he’s one of my competitors, 10, 15 years later.
Transition to Williams and Early Season Challenges
After spending four years driving for Ferrari in Maranello, Sainz switched to Williams for the 2025 season, teaming up with Alex Albon. His transition to the Grove-based team saw a difficult start, but he delivered a breakthrough by securing his first podium with Williams during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari the same season, has faced his own struggles, managing a sprint race win in China but yet to reach the podium in a grand prix with his new team.
Focus on Personal Performance over Rival’s Progress
When questioned about finishing on the podium before Hamilton with Ferrari, Sainz remained focused on his own achievements rather than comparing himself to others.
What everyone else does is not my business, to be honest,
he stated after the Azerbaijan race.
What I care about is that the first opportunity that I had to score a podium with Williams, and the first opportunity Williams had to score a podium, we took it, we scored it, and there it is.
Resilience Amid Early Difficulties
Sainz acknowledged the challenges involved in switching teams in the current F1 environment but noted his competitiveness from the outset despite a lack of immediate results.
I think out of everyone that’s changed teams — which is not an easy task nowadays — I’ve been very competitive from the first race, very quick, but I didn’t have results with me.
He described the initial absence of tangible successes as a test of patience and perseverance.
I didn’t have results to prove to myself, the team, and everyone that some good things were about to come.
But, in the end, they did. I think life has taught me many times that this sometimes happens — that you have a run of misfortune or bad performances, but then suddenly life gives you back if you keep working hard with something really sweet like this.
Implications for the Season and Future Competitions
This mindset shift highlights the evolving nature of rivalries in Formula 1, especially between longstanding drivers like Hamilton and emerging challengers such as Sainz. As the season progresses, Sainz’s ability to remain focused on his own development rather than his rivals’ results could provide a psychological edge. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s adjustment to Ferrari will be closely observed, as both drivers seek to return to consistent top performances.
