Despite fastest time in Bahrain, Sainz dampens expectations with Williams

Carlos Sainz did it again. As in 2024, the Spaniard set the fastest time in the winter tests in Bahrain in 1'29″348, a time set on the second day of testing on Thursday. The only difference compared to last year: the Madrilenian was not on board a Ferrari, but of a Williams ! Of course, it didn't take much for a certain expectation to be created around the British team and its new star driver. Nevertheless, the main interested party quickly calmed the ardor of his aficionados: according to him, the best time set on his Williams FW47 on C3 tires does not mean that the Grove team will be at the forefront in 2025. "I don't think we've done what it takes to compete with the top teams this year", he confided in the Sakhir paddock.

After completing 127 laps in his day and a half of testing, Carlos Sainz admits that he still has to tame his new machine, which he is not managing to exploit 100%. “In terms of driving style, I'm still figuring out what I need to do with this car to go fast, because, to be honest, I'm still a bit lost as to where I can find lap time, the new Williams driver told F1 TV. I don't know if it's from the corner entries, exits, minimum speeds. That's why this test was important for me to understand where the lap time comes from. I feel like when I push I can reach a decent level, but I still don't know where the last two tenths are that the car can have and that's what we have to find out in the first 5-6 races when I put softer tyres on the car."

A successful integration at Williams for Sainz

For the few observers who have tried to establish a first hierarchy after these winter tests, Williams should be around 6th place and should fight against Alpine et Haas this season. Beyond the one-lap time, which is rather flattering compared to the competition, the FW47 has proven to be consistent and quite fast in terms of race pace over long runs. With two solid and experienced drivers, Williams could well create a surprise and establish itself as the "best of the rest" when the opposing teams will have to play with a rookie driver (Doohan at Alpine, Bearman at Haas).

While Williams' position in the pack is still somewhat unclear, Carlos Sainz's integration into the Grove team has been a success so far. The Spaniard is already establishing himself as a team leader, much to the delight of James Vowles. The former Ferrari driver talks about his first intense months with the nine-time world champion team. “It’s been a very busy winter for me, since the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. With that running, it gave us some things we could focus on and work on in the off-season, explains the four-time Grand Prix winner. I spent a lot of time in Grove, meeting new people, at Mercedes HPP as well. It was maybe one of the most intense winters of my career. I think we did our homework well and prepared well, as you can see after these tests."

“The team surprised me and I felt pretty good in the car in Abu Dhabi. I saw a team that was very motivated to move up the order. The post-season tests were a very good start. During the winter, they pushed me a lot and I like that because it means they are pushing me and pushing themselves. That’s exactly what we need at this time of year and at this stage of the project.”, concludes the Madrilenian, aware that 2025 will only be a year of transition before the big deadline of 2026.

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