Carlos Sainz is flying in his new Williams

Carlos Sainz Jr. is flying in his new Williams and was sitting on top of the timesheet for a while on the final day of F1 action for 2024. The Williams newcomer has registered some staggering lap times at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit.

The former Ferrari driver was permitted by the Italian team to test drive what will be his new car for the next driving season. He sampled the Williams-Mercedes FW46, setting a time of 1:23.635s.

The Spaniard finished under Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) who cashed in 1:23.510s in first place, and George Russel (Mercedes), who crossed the line third with 1:23.789s, reports Motorsport.

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Following the shocking Ferrari announcement to make Lewis Hamilton their 2025 driver alongside Leclerc, many fans were left wondering... What about Carlos? The Spaniard who signed with Ferrari back in 2021 and achieved 4 wins with 27 podiums signed for Williams Racing in 2025.

Carlos Sainz Jr. was shown the door by Ferrari to make way for Lewis Hamilton at the end of the season. However, stepping away from Ferrari to join Williams Racing is a significant change for the 29-year-old driver. Was it the right move?

"I'm convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again," shared Sainz in the Williams press release. The Spaniard sealed a two-year deal with the English racing team, replacing American driver, Logan Sargeant.

In 2025, Sainz Jr. will be paired with Alex Albon, bringing together two energetic young drivers. Interestingly, both have experienced serious appendix issues in the past, making them the first appendix-less driver lineup in F1 history.

With three victories and 22 podiums to his name, the Spanish driver is still hungry for more success, according to Motorsport. However, some motorsport pundits argue that joining Williams was a hasty decision, with some even labelling it a 'downgrade'.

"The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity," shared Sainz during a press conference. An ambitious goal? Maybe, but it shows the Spaniard's relentless personality.

The moment Ferrari announced the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, Sainz was bombarded with deals from established teams like Williams, Alpine, and Audio (2025 debut). Nevertheless, some argue Sainz was offered the short end of the stick after a couple of strong seasons with the Italian team.

John Elkann, president at Ferrari, has never hid his admiration for the seven-time world champion, and has tempted Hamilton with multiple deals in the past. Leclerc's recent contract extension in 2023 left Sainz with little wiggle room.

Hamilton originally signed to remain at Mercedes for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but "what was initially thought to be a two-year deal could instead be a one-plus-one arrangement with exit clauses at the end of the first term," according to Autosport.

Sainz faced a particularly complex driver market in Formula One, which delayed his decision to sign with Williams. Having previously driven for Toro Rosso, Renault, and McLaren, he understands the 'musical chairs' game that happens in the paddocks. According to the Guardian, the Spaniard was convinced to join the team after late-night talks with team principal James Vowles.

"Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement of intent from both parties. Carlos has demonstrated time and again that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with race-winning pedigree," shared James Vowles during an interview.

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