Carlos Sainz, the Spanish driver, recently opened up about his experience at Ferrari as he transitions to Williams for the upcoming season. Sainz described being a Ferrari driver as a "very special experience," though he candidly noted that "not everything is roses and perfect" about it.
Being part of the Scuderia comes with its own set of pressures and expectations, given Ferrari's long-standing legacy in Formula 1. As the oldest and most successful team in the sport, alongside being Italy’s unofficial national team, Sainz acknowledged the intense scrutiny surrounding all aspects of the operation.
"It’s a very special experience," Sainz remarked during an interview with Tom Clarkson on the Beyond the Grid podcast. "It’s something that even if I sit here and I try to explain it to you, I don’t think I can. I’m not very good at explaining myself or explaining my feelings, and I can tell you, it’s something very different from anything that I felt before, and I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it."
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Despite the highs of representing such a prestigious team, Sainz was forthright about the difficulties associated with the role. "Sometimes it’s tough," he admitted. "There are things about being a Ferrari driver that are also tough. And I’m not going to lie, not everything is roses and perfect."
As he prepares to start a multi-year contract with Williams, Sainz reflects positively on his time with Ferrari, emphasizing the connection with fans. "I’m going to focus on the positives, which is every Grand Prix is a kind of home Grand Prix. Everywhere you go, there are tifosi fans, and you have the most supporters out of any other place or any other team – except maybe when we go to Zandvoort, where there are definitely more Dutch fans than Ferrari fans,” he explained.
The Spaniard, who will not return to Ferrari in 2025 as Lewis Hamilton joins Charles Leclerc, aims to help Williams reclaim its place in the upper echelons of Formula 1 racing. Sainz recognized the vast support Ferrari enjoys worldwide but remained tight-lipped about the challenges he faced during his time at the Scuderia.
"On the tough side, we can sit here and obviously do a different podcast one time, and I can maybe explain to you what is tough about being a Ferrari driver, but I don’t want this interview to be that," Sainz hinted, leaving much to the imagination about his experiences at Ferrari.
With Williams, he steps into a role that some may view as less glamorous but offers a new chance for growth and performance improvement. The Formula 1 landscape is evolving, and Sainz's move to Williams is seen as a potential turning point for a team looking to boost its competitiveness in the upcoming seasons.
Sainz's transition brings hope to fans who wish to see Williams rise again as a formidable competitor in the sport, and his experiences at Ferrari may offer him the unique insight needed to navigate challenges at his new team. As he embarks on this next chapter, Sainz remains focused on delivering results and contributing to a brighter future for Williams.
