Last Updated on November 19 2024, 12:45 pm

The only non-Red Bull driver in Formula One who was able to halt the inevitable procession of Max Verstappen wins last season, Carlos Sainz, was announced this week as one of the Williams drivers set for the post season Abu Dhabi test. Former Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor described this as on of “the saddest bits of news” as he reflects on how it all went wrong for the Spanish driver.

Sainz was negotiating a new deal with Ferrari last winter and reports from the Italian media had suggested team boss Fred Vasseur was in favour of retaining his driver lineup beyond this year.

Then Enzo’s descendent, now the Ferrari group president, John Elkann informed the Ferrari team principal he had agreed a deal for Lewis Hamilton to join the Scuderia for 2025, leaving Carlos Sainz out in the cold.

 

 

 

No room at the inn for Carlos

Ever the political chameleon, Vasseur took the decision in his stride pressing ahead with media events explaining the rationality of the Hamilton/Ferrari hookup. This of course released one of the top drivers on the grid in Carlos Sainz who appeared to have a number of decent options on the table to further his F1 career.

Red Bull appeared to be the favourites given their problems with Checo underperforming risked them losing the constructors’ title race this season. Yet it appeared the Verstappen’s were not happy with this idea given the friction between the fathers when Carlos and Max raced together at Toro Rosso.

Having intimated he might do something “bold,” when announcing the departure of his star driver, Toto Wolff appeared to close the door to Mercedes for Carlos even before the 2024 campaign was under way.

McLaren had their drivers locked in for the future and Aston Martin moved quickly to secure Alonso and Stroll just weeks after the first event in Bahrain.

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Sainz Snr pushes for Audi

So in reality Sainz had the option of just Alpine, Sauber-Audi, Williams or Haas if he wished to remain in Formula One. Carlos appeared to rule out Haas F1 early on and it could be the F1 ‘kit car’ reputation of the US owned team which swayed him away from the shoe string operation.

The favourite was Sauber-Audi, particularly given the fact that Sainz Snr. has been driving for the German auto manufacturer winning Dakar rally this year in an Audi RS Q-etron. Further, for most F1 observers, the might of a manufacturer owned team is usually preferable over a privateer organisation like Williams.

In an interview with Spanish publication Motor.es, Sainz Snr discussed the future options for his son back in January: “Audi, I think, is a guarantee,” he said. “I know very well how seriously they take every project and I know very well what the German mentality in the world of motoring entails, with its advantages and certain disadvantages.”

Carlos Snr went on to predict Audi would make it to the front of the F1 field eventually, though refused to predict how their early years would pan out. Meanwhile, Sauber are the rubbing rags of this year’s F1 class and the team remains pointless after 21 rounds of this year’s campaign.

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Williams: Best worst option?

A number of F1 experts have written they find it difficult to see how Audi can make a quick turnaround of their Swiss based F1 team despite their vast resources. Williams are now in the second year of their big turnaround project, but remain the team immediately above Sauber in the constructors’ championship.

Yet in the end for many Sainz chose the least worst option rejecting both the Renault and the VW owned works teams. But Carlos has remained silent since his announcement and only now opens up on his decision making process.

“It was not an easy decision. Up until the day I signed, there were several good options,” Sainz tells German media outlet AMuS. “In the end, I had to follow my instincts. I have the utmost respect for the Audi brand. My father has told me a thousand times how good they will be. He is 100 per cent sure that Audi will be strong in the future.”

Carlos intimates he believes the Audi F1 project will take some time before finding its feet in a sport known for its dog eat dog performance based culture. 

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Carlos sees Audi as long term

“Although I wanted to help build something up, I also wanted to achieve good results in the short term. In my opinion, Williams was the best option. I still stand by this decision.

“Time will tell whether I was right. My gut feeling told me that this project with James Vowles was the best solution in the short and medium term.”

Sainz admits he has benefitted from his father’s presence in the Ferrari garage: “He is still my biggest supporter and I know that I can count on his advice. However, he now only turns up when I need him. That is much rarer than it used to be. It has become less and less every year.

“But at important moments, such as after Singapore, I ask him for his opinion. Then we have an open conversation.”

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Williams approach Sainz before Ferrari sacking

In Singapore this year, Sainz suffered from a poor qualifying session and started P10, as the race unfolded the Ferrari driver made up a handful of places crossing the line seventh, in what was a disappointing weekend.

Sainz is philosophical over his move to Williams but admits being rejected by Ferrari was hard to take. “It hurt at the time, we all have egos, and I have a driver ego, and I couldn’t understand it at the time.

“I still personally cannot understand certain choices that people have done, but at the same time, it creates even more of a challenge in me, and it even makes me more excited for Williams.”

Carlos reveals Williams had contracted him even before he knew Ferrari were not renewing his contact, suggesting it was this kind of commitment which persuaded him to join James Vowles in his efforts to restore the historic F1 team to the front of the grid.

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Las Vegas bad memories for Carlos

“I said, ‘I want to give to these guys what they’ve given to me. Give back to them this trust and this belief in me’. I cannot wait to go there and, together with them, build something good,” Sainz Jr concludes.

Sainz’s return to Las Vegas will not bring happy memories for the Spaniard who was struck by a loose manhole cover nine minutes into free practice one. His Ferrari was practically destroyed and to add insult to injury, the Spaniard was subsequently awarded a grid drop penalty by the stewards for using excess parts to repair his car.

Carlos is one of the top drivers in Formula One and his time at Williams should not damage his reputation. If James Key, Sauber’s technical director, is right then the upgraded Sauber-Audi team won’t be near the front of the grid until last least 2027. Should the German manufacturer then prove themselves worthy, Sainz will be available at that time.

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FBI sent to Las Vegas Grand Prix

Formula One is preparing for what Liberty Media hope to be a spectacular weekend in Las Vegas. The race in the Nevada desert is the only one which F1 promotes itself having invested around $1bn in acquiring an entire city block and building a permanent paddock and grandstands as the base for Vegas F1.

The very public nature of the circuit along the strip means local businesses are gifted vantage points from which their clients can watch the race. However, disputes still rage this year over how much these non-affiliated partners should pay F1 for their beneficial location, with local owners arguing the logistical upset of F1 coming to town is price enough.

As the promoters of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Liberty Media are also facing a 35,000 strong class lawsuit from fans who paid for Friday tickets last season, but saw just nine minutes of action that day. Carlos Sainz hit a man hole cover minutes into FP1which destroyed his Ferrari car and ended the session… READ MORE