Carlos Sainz — 2025 season

Carlos Sainz's 2025 Formula 1 season, his debut with Williams Grand Prix Engineering, was a testament to perseverance, culminating in a ninth-place finish in the Drivers' Championship with 64 points. The year began with significant challenges for both driver and team, as Williams navigated the competitive landscape of the ground-effect era, which had seen the field close up considerably since Red Bull's dominant run in 2022–2023.

Going in

Sainz arrived at Williams with a reputation for consistency and strategic acumen, having demonstrated his capabilities across multiple teams since his 2015 debut. The move to Williams was seen as an opportunity for the team to leverage his experience, particularly in the nuanced world of tunnel-floor ground-effect regulations and 18-inch wheels. Expectations were tempered by the understanding that Williams, while showing signs of progress, was still a midfield contender, and a significant leap in performance would be required to challenge the front-runners consistently. The early races would be crucial for understanding the FW47's true potential.

How it played out

The initial phase of the season proved difficult. Sainz suffered two DNFs in the first four races, including an accident at the Australian Grand Prix and collision damage in Bahrain. Points were scarce, with a solitary point from a tenth-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix being the only return from the opening three rounds. The team struggled to find a consistent rhythm, and Sainz frequently found himself battling outside the top ten. A series of mid-season finishes, including an eighth place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, along with a ninth in Miami, showed flashes of potential, but a run of races without points from the Spanish Grand Prix through the Italian Grand Prix highlighted the car's limitations and the intense competition. This period echoed some of the challenges faced by drivers in evolving midfield teams, such as Lance Stroll's 2019 season with Racing Point.

Defining moments

The turning point for Sainz and Williams arrived in the latter half of the season. At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a circuit known for its unpredictability, Sainz qualified an impressive second and converted it into a third-place finish, securing his first podium of the year. This performance was a significant morale boost and demonstrated the potential when conditions aligned. Another strong showing came at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he started third and finished fifth, showcasing his ability to capitalize on street circuit opportunities. The pinnacle, however, was his second podium finish at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he climbed from seventh on the grid to secure another third place. These late-season results were critical in elevating his championship position and showcasing the team's development trajectory, providing a glimpse into the kind of performance that a veteran like .