On Tuesday morning, Carlos Sainz made his first laps as a Williams driver during the official post-season test at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. After four successful years with Ferrari, the Spaniard is embarking on a new chapter with the British team, where he is expected to play a key role in the rebuilding process.
First Laps in the FW46
The day after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sainz got a taste of his new workplace during a brief filming day, but the real work began on Tuesday. Dressed in a white racing suit without sponsor logos and a neutral helmet, he made his official debut for Williams. The Spaniard completed seven laps during his first stint and clocked a best time of 1:26.484. Last weekend, he recorded a 1:22.824 in his Ferrari during the qualifying session, but the conditions during the post-season test are naturally different from those of a qualifying session.
Preparations for 2025
As permitted by the FIA, teams are allowed to deploy two cars during the post-season test. This enabled Carlos Sainz Jr. to hit the ground running with his preparations for 2025. Moreover, he was allowed to drive with the homologated version of Pirelli’s 2025 tires, developed by his former employer Ferrari.
The tire test during the morning session gave Sainz access to ten sets of tires, including the new ultra-soft C6. Teams are allowed to determine their own test program and submit the collected data to Pirelli. For Sainz, it was an excellent opportunity to get to know both the car and the tires and provide the team with valuable feedback.
From Ferrari to Williams
Williams is the fifth employer of Sainz in his Formula 1 career. The Spaniard made his debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), before moving to Renault in 2017. Two years at McLaren and four seasons at Ferrari followed, but now he is looking forward to a new challenge at Williams. For Williams, the arrival of Sainz marks an important step in their ambitions to compete again in the midfield – and perhaps beyond. With his experience and proven abilities, the team hopes to continue the upward trend of recent years.
