Lewis Hamilton has now formally changed Carlos Sainz as a Ferrari F1 driver, although the Spaniard has been given a powerful parting reward earlier than he heads to new group Williams
Picture: System 1 through Getty Photos)
Ferrari have handed Carlos Sainz a shocking reward after his four-year stint with the group got here to an finish.
The Spaniard joined in 2021 from McLaren and impressed as a part of a robust driver line-up alongside Charles Leclerc. Sainz received 4 races throughout that point, together with two victories in his closing season with the group regardless of the frustration of being advised he had misplaced his seat to Lewis Hamilton.
The primary of these 4 victories got here in a shocking British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 2022. That race turned well-known for a unprecedented double overtake by Hamilton as he duelled with Sergio Perez and Leclerc for a spot on the rostrum.
However Sainz was the person who received from pole place that day with a mature drive. And, as a thank-you for his efforts throughout his time with Ferrari, the Italians have gifted the F1-75 automobile that he drove in that season to their now former driver.
So far as leaving presents to an worker go, a full-sized F1 automobile is a exceptional present of appreciation. Damon Hill definitely thinks so, because the 1996 champion reacted to the information by merely writing: “Wow,” on his Instagram story.
Although he was understandably upset to have misplaced his seat, Sainz heads into the 2025 season excited a couple of new problem. After months of mulling over his future, the 29-year-old determined to affix Williams and can spend not less than the following two years driving alongside Alex Albon and attempting to assist restore the well-known group to its former glory.
Group principal James Vowles is the person tasked with overseeing that restoration and is underneath no illusions that it’s a long-term challenge. However the former Mercedes technique chief is not less than assured that he has the correct driver mixture in place to get probably the most out of their automobiles.
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Vowles has beforehand stated that he believes he has the very best driver line-up on the grid now that he has persuaded Sainz to affix Albon. Challenged on that view by Mirror Sport in our unique interview on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, the Williams boss defined: “From the outset, what I needed to do is to convey the easiest into this group.
“This isn’t the outdated Williams, this isn’t, ‘Let’s have pay drivers’. That is, ‘Who’s the very best?’ And begin speaking to them and get them there. The rationale why I name it the very best driver pairing is as a result of there is not any politics between both of these drivers.
“Alex and Carlos, neither one is political – they simply need to go fast they usually simply need to develop the group into a fast group. For the place Williams is, that is the correct partnership, the correct line-up.”
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