Carlos Sainz Pens Appreciation Letter to Williams Staff After 'Remarkable' First Season
Carlos Sainz has thanked Williams staff with a personal letter, praising their work in a 'remarkable' first season together that yielded two podiums and fifth in the constructors' standings—the team's best result since 2017. He emphasized the results were a team achievement while acknowledging the long road ahead to return Williams to winning ways.
Carlos Sainz has concluded his debut season with Williams by personally thanking the team's staff with a heartfelt letter, acknowledging their collective effort in achieving the squad's best constructors' championship finish since 2017. The Spaniard's gesture highlights the strong bonds formed after a year that saw him secure two podium finishes and help elevate the historic team.
Why it matters:
In an era of high-pressure, corporate Formula 1, such personal gestures from a driver to the entire team are increasingly rare. Sainz's letter underscores a driver's recognition that success is a collective achievement, fostering team morale and unity as Williams aims to build on its 2025 progress under the pivotal 2026 regulations.
The details:
- Sainz's first season with Williams resulted in a P5 finish in the constructors' championship, the team's highest placement in eight years.
- His on-track contributions included two podium finishes (Baku and Qatar) and a sprint race podium in Austin.
- In the letter, described as a "small gesture of appreciation," Sainz credited the staff's dedication for the team's achievements and emphasized that the podium highlights "are not mine they are a direct result of your efforts."
- He struck a balance between celebration and ambition, noting the team has laid "solid foundations" but that "there is still a long road ahead" to return Williams to its winning ways.
The big picture:
Sainz's move to Williams for 2025, after being replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, was seen as a strategic long-term play aligned with the 2026 regulation overhaul. His satisfaction with the team's Mercedes power unit partnership was a key factor in his decision. The positive internal dynamic contrasts with reported challenges at Ferrari, where Hamilton has taken a hands-on engineering approach, sending detailed documents to Maranello—a method former Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene recently criticized as potentially counterproductive when "a driver starts playing engineer."
What's next:
With the 2026 season bringing major technical changes, including 50% electrification and active aerodynamics, Williams and Sainz are positioned to capitalize on their strengthened partnership and the momentum from 2025. The off-season will be crucial for preparing the new-era car, with Sainz already signaling his full commitment to the project and his belief that the team has "all the right ingredients" to succeed.