The Carlos Sainz Effect: Will it Help Take Williams to the Top?

Whether you call him "Chili," "Smooth Operator," or "El Matador," there's no denying that Carlos Sainz is a brilliant Formula 1 driver. With 4 wins, 27 podiums, and 1272.5 total career points under his belt Carlos has showcased his talent, adaptability, and determination with his former teams; Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari. Will the same be true for his new chapter with Williams Racing?

Toro Rosso (2015-2017)

Carlos Sainz began his Formula 1 career in 2015 with the junior Red Bull team, Toro Rosso, alongside fellow rookie at the time, Max Verstappen. He managed to show immense potential, although his first year had its ups and downs with a series of retirements and electrical failures. Highlights during this time include:

• A 9th place finish at the Australian Grand Prix, securing points in his debut race

• Scoring 46 out of 63 of Toro Rosso’s points in 2016 and 48 out of 52 in 2017

• Breaking into the top ten in the Drivers’ Championship

Renault (2017-2018)

Replacing Jolyon Palmer, Carlos Sainz joined Nico Hülkenberg at Renault for the final four races of the 2017season and secured a full-time contract for 2018. Although his time with the team was brief, Sainz was instrumental in helping Renault regain its competitive edge

• Scoring points in 13 out of 19 races he finished

• Earning 2 top five finishes during his time

• Took Renault from p9 to p4 in the Constructors’ Championship during his time

McLaren (2019-2020)

Making the move to McLaren in 2019, was a pivotal moment in Sainz’s career. He partnered with rookie Lando Norris and often finished on the tails of Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull scoring critical points for the team. He quickly emerged as a competitive driver and played a key role in leading McLaren back to the top:

• Earning his first podium in Formula 1 at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix after starting from the back of the grid

• Finishing in the top five 10 times and the top ten 25 times during his time with the team

• Ending the 2020 season 6th in the Drivers’ Championship and led McLaren to place 3rd in the Constructors’

  
  

  Championship, their best finish in 8 years

Scuderia Ferrari (2021-2024)

Joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2021 alongside Charles Leclerc, Carlos showed the world what a strong and adaptable driver he is. In the driver’s seat of one of the most iconic and successful motorsports teams in history, Sainz quickly made his mark. Seeking to rebuild its legacy and return Ferrari to the top of the standings, Sainz brought forth his experience and technical skill set. This allowed the team to develop a car that was capable of winning and made him a fan favorite among the Tifosi. 

• Outscoring his teammate in his first year with Ferrari, finishing 5th in the Drivers’ Championship 

• Claiming his first Formula 1 win and pole position in the 2022 British Grand Prix

• Securing 9 podium finishes, 3 wins, and 5th in the Drivers’ standings in 2024

• Leading Ferrari to a 2nd place finish in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, only 14 points away from

  
  

  McLaren 

Williams Racing (present)

Carlos was forced to find a new home, after Ferrari announced that they would be signing 7 time Drivers’ Championship winner Lewis Hamilton. On July 29, 2024 he announced that he would be embarking on a new journey with Williams Racing. 

Sainz took his first test laps in the Williams after this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He managed to put in 145 laps on track and came 2nd in the time sheets, just a tenth of a second away from former teammate, Charles Leclerc. 

Carlos Sainz’s journey through Formula 1 has been marked by perseverance, adaptability, and hard work on and off the track. With these characteristics and his history of returning teams to their former glory, will Carlos Sainz be able to take Williams Racing back to the top?