Carlos Sainz Sr. expressed immense pride after his son, Carlos Sainz, secured a podium finish with Williams at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend. The 31-year-old Spaniard had faced a difficult start to his Formula 1 tenure with the Grove-based team, but a strong qualifying session in Baku helped him achieve one of his best results so far in the 2025 season. This Carlos Sainz Williams podium has renewed optimism for the driver and the team moving forward.
Sainz made the switch to Williams in 2025 after four successful years at Ferrari in Maranello, where he recorded four race victories and 25 podium finishes. His tenure with the Scuderia concluded on a high note, having won multiple races the previous year. However, his departure was prompted by the return of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, which forced Sainz to seek opportunities elsewhere.
While moving to Williams initially appeared to be a step back in terms of competitiveness, considering the British outfit’s recent history of struggling towards the rear of the grid, the 2025 car has shown promise early on. Though Williams initially faced challenges transferring performance evenly between drivers, the team addressed these issues by the time of the Azerbaijan race weekend. As a result, Sainz started on the front row and converted that advantage into a podium finish on race day.
Reflecting on a Pivotal Race Weekend in Azerbaijan
Sainz Sr., reflecting on his son’s performance in Baku, conveyed his perspective to AS:
“It’s an excellent result, especially because it wasn’t thanks to yellow flags, a safety car, or rain. This podium finish comes from some good decisions with the tires, etc. But anyway, as I was talking to him yesterday, now he has to turn the page, focus on the next Grand Prix, and try to have a strong finish to the season. Now it’s time to keep learning, stay motivated, and continue being a team player with Williams. In the meantime, he waits for next year to have a good car with all the regulation changes.”
— Carlos Sainz Sr., father of Carlos Sainz
He also added:
“He chased it, and after a bad run, the sun always comes out a little.”
— Carlos Sainz Sr., father of Carlos Sainz
The podium in Azerbaijan marked a turning point for Sainz, who had endured 16 lackluster race weekends earlier in the 2025 season. His struggles reflected the difficulties the Williams team faced adapting to new regulations and refining the car over the season’s initial phase.
Sainz’s Perspective on Overcoming Early Setbacks
With more than 200 race starts under his belt and a track record that includes multiple victories, Carlos Sainz joined Williams equipped with experience and expectations. Yet, the 2025 campaign began in a frustrating manner, with numerous external factors impacting his race performances.
He described the recent podium as a vital lesson learned through perseverance amid adversity, saying (via F1’s official website):
“Life sometimes brings you those bad moments to give you a very nice one, and this tastes much better than anything I was expecting… A life lesson – to keep believing, to keep trusting the team around you, your procedures and everything around you, because sooner or later, it always pays off.”
— Carlos Sainz, Williams driver
This optimistic mindset highlights his determination to remain focused and productive despite earlier difficulties, a mindset critical for a driver navigating the challenges of a team rebuilding its competitiveness.
Williams’ Improved Performance and Season Prospects
Sainz’s podium at Baku helped Williams surpass the 100-point mark in the world championship for the first time since 2016. Meanwhile, teammate Alex Albon has been the primary contributor to the team’s points haul, accumulating 70 points to date. The shared progress from both drivers underlines Williams’ upward trajectory this year.
The Azerbaijan GP performance, combined with incremental improvements in car development and strategy, suggests Williams could become more consistently competitive in the remaining races of the season. With significant regulation changes set for 2026, the lessons learned in 2025 are crucial preparation for the future.
For Carlos Sainz, the experience gained in Baku provides both motivation and tangible proof that his efforts with Williams will be rewarded. His father’s encouragement and the team’s progression together build a foundation for aiming higher in the upcoming races and beyond.
