Carlos Sainz Nails Every 2025 F1 Season Prediction

Carlos Sainz was the only driver to perfectly predict his 2025 Formula 1 season, accurately forecasting Williams' significant step forward and his own podium finishes. While drivers like Lando Norris, Oliver Bearman, and Isack Hadjar got parts of their forecasts right, Sainz's preseason vision for his campaign with Williams proved to be remarkably precise.

Why it matters:

In a sport defined by unpredictability, Sainz's accurate self-assessment highlights a driver's deep understanding of his own capabilities and his team's potential trajectory. His successful predictions, particularly the podium finishes for Williams, underscore a season where driver performance and team progress aligned exactly with his expectations, a rare feat in F1.

The details:

• Perfect Score: Sainz predicted he would help Williams take a major step forward while enjoying the season—a feat achieved as the team recorded its best Constructors' Championship finish in recent years.
• Wildcard Success: His bold forecast of a podium for Williams was exceeded, with the Spaniard securing two Grand Prix podiums and a sprint podium during the campaign.
• Mixed Results for Others: World Champion Lando Norris correctly predicted winning both championships. Rookie Isack Hadjar forecast his maiden podium, which he achieved at the Dutch Grand Prix. Oliver Bearman predicted a top-five finish, securing fourth place for Haas in Mexico City.

The big picture:

Sainz's prescient season adds a compelling footnote to a year where he successfully led Williams' resurgence. His performance and foresight have drawn comparisons to top drivers, with analyst Jacques Villeneuve recently highlighting a similarity between Sainz and Max Verstappen in their "old-fashioned" ability to extract maximum performance from their cars. As the season concludes, Sainz's accurate predictions stand as a testament to a driver perfectly in sync with his team's development curve.