Sainz spent final laps at Ferrari preparing for first Williams test · RaceFans

Carlos Sainz Jnr has revealed he was already interested by his first take a look at for Williams as he accomplished his ultimate grand prix for Ferrari on Sunday.

Williams’s new driver had his first run of their automotive lower than 24 hours after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the identical monitor. He’s additionally driving for the group in the present day within the post-season take a look at at Yas Marina.

Sainz completed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in second place, 5 seconds behind winner Lando Norris. He stated he spent the ultimate laps considering forward to his first runs for his new group Williams with a view to take advantage of the chance to check the 2 automobiles.

“On my final laps, as a lot as I used to be pushing like hell for [Ferrari] and making an attempt, I used to be already beginning to really feel issues within the automotive and making an attempt to say ‘bear in mind how this feels’,” he stated after the race on Sunday. “As a result of tomorrow and Tuesday I want to recollect why is that this automotive fast on this nook and why does it really feel good.”

Carlos Sainz Jnr, Ferrari, Yas Marina, 2024 — Sainz’s thoughts turned to his new group in ultimate laps at Ferrari

He’s transferring from the group which completed second within the constructors’ championship to the group which completed second-to-last. Williams scored simply 17 factors to Ferrari’s 652.

“I do know in all probability what I’m going to search out tomorrow and Tuesday wants some margin of enchancment within the corners that I used to be feeling within the automotive,” Sainz acknowledged.

“So this simply sums up that I’m already trying additionally forward. I’m extraordinarily motivated for the problem that I’ve forward of me.

Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

“As we speak is a day to attempt to take pleasure in as a lot as attainable with the group as my final day in pink. We nonetheless have some days in Maranello arising, however clearly my aggressive thoughts is already trying ahead to Monday and Tuesday and to see how I could make that Williams automotive quicker.”

Carlos Sainz Jnr, Williams, Yas Marina, 2024 post-season test — Sainz had first Williams run on day earlier than Tuesday take a look at

Williams final achieved a podium end within the weird 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which consisted of solely a single lap behind the Security Automotive. That was its first rostrum end since 2017.

After scoring the twenty seventh top-three end of his profession final weekend, Sainz stated it’s “inconceivable to foretell” when he and new group mate Alexander Albon will probably be ready to struggle for related outcomes.

“I feel James [Vowles, team principal] stated it the opposite day and calmed everybody’s expectations, that subsequent yr goes to be a tricky yr and a studying yr earlier than we put together for the change of laws in ‘26, the place I consider the group is investing and the group is making ready to maximise that probability.

“What I can inform you is that I’m as decided as ever to assist that group to be again the place it belongs. I personally really feel like I belong to be combating for wins, podiums and prime fives in Formulation 1. I feel I’ve confirmed it these final 4 years as a driver. I feel I belong to that.

“However Williams can not neglect that Williams additionally belongs combating for these prime 5 and podium locations. And along with the willpower and the energy that I feel we’re going to point out collectively, the goal is to get Williams and myself combating for these positions within the close to future.”

Advert | Grow to be a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

After six seasons of podium finishes, Sainz possible faces an extended wait for one more after being dropped by Ferrari to make manner for Lewis Hamilton. Nonetheless he stated he’s decided to make successful of his transfer to Williams.

“How lengthy it’s going to take, I can not inform you,” he instructed media on Sunday. “However as I stated earlier than, I don’t assume you guys perceive and count on how motivated and the way a lot I’m really trying ahead to that problem.

“I do know that’s one among my qualities, to assist a group to carry out higher and to know which instructions to comply with. And that really motivates me, having a full group behind Alex and me pushing all in the identical course to make a historic group like Williams aggressive once more. It’s a problem that’s powerful to clarify, however some individuals don’t perceive how a lot I’m really trying ahead to it.”