Carlos Sainz has built one of the more understated but consistently effective careers on the current Formula One grid, and his move to Williams for 2025 has placed him at the center of one of the sport's most encouraging midfield recoveries.
A Steady Rise Through Toro Rosso and Renault
Sainz made his Formula One debut with Toro Rosso in 2015 before spells with Renault and McLaren, building a reputation as a reliable, hard-working driver capable of extracting strong results from midfield machinery, including a standout podium finish for McLaren at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix following a late reclassification.
Ferrari Years
Sainz's move to Ferrari in 2021 brought the most successful stretch of his career, including his first grand prix win at the 2022 British Grand Prix and further victories in Singapore in 2023 and Mexico in 2024 — the latter serving as Ferrari's final win before the team's difficult, victory-less 2025 season. Paired with Charles Leclerc for four seasons, Sainz was widely regarded as a strong, consistent second driver capable of winning races when the car allowed it.
Losing His Seat to Hamilton
Despite his Ferrari results, Sainz's seat was given to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton for 2025, one of the most talked-about driver decisions of recent years, prompting Sainz to seek a new home for the remainder of his career.
A Fresh Start at Williams
Sainz's move to Williams alongside Alex Albon has been credited as a smart pairing for a team on the rise, combining Sainz's experience of race-winning machinery with Albon's own strong recent form. Williams enters the 2026 regulation reset with genuine optimism about climbing further up the competitive order after several years of gradual improvement under the team's current leadership.
Proving a Point
For a driver who lost a competitive Ferrari seat despite a strong track record, Sainz's performances at Williams carry an added layer of motivation. Early results in 2026 have been mixed as the team adjusts to the new regulations, but Sainz's experience is widely seen as a valuable asset for Williams as it works to close the gap to the sport's front-running teams.