Carlos Sainz, the driver abandoned by Ferrari to make way for Lewis Hamilton, thinks that his former team could now be even better placed to return to the top of Formula 1 with the former world champion on board. Hamilton joined Ferrari de Mercedes, with the 40 -year -old to make his debut for Italian giants during the Australian Grand Prix of opening next month while he goes in search of a world record for the eighth pilot.
Sainz gave way to the move of Hamilton, the Spaniard, 30 years old, now queuing for Williams in Melbourne on March 16 after spending three years driving alongside Charles Leclerc in Ferrari.
But Sainz, speaking during the launch of the British team Williams in 2025 in Silverstone on Friday, said: “When I left, I felt that Ferrari and Charles were ready to fight for a world championship, and with Lewis joining, it would only increase.
“I have never been a teammate with Lewis, so I don’t know what he is able to do. I have never seen his data. I saw Charles’ data and I know how good it is.
“The only way to assess a driver is when you are a teammate and you see what he is capable of doing.
“But when I look at the results of Lewis and his history, and what he has accomplished, I can only say that there will be a very good chance that he is competitive for Ferrari.”
Hamilton should unveil his new Ferrari at the launch of the O2 Arena Formula season in London on Tuesday before going to the team’s headquarters the next day, where he should speak to the media for the first time as a Ferrari driver.
Williams finished a modest level in the 2024 manufacturers’ classification, but Sainz insists that he can help relaunch the fortune of the nine champions.
“I think I bring a lot of knowledge, a lot of things you know, which, I think, could be applied to this car and the team at the same time,” said Sainz.
“I see a team that is also ready to fight for victories. It is about doing everything to make the team make sure that we also give all the engineers and all the mechanisms and the pilots the right tools to compete at the highest level.”
Sainz, a winner of four Grand Prix, will be associated alongside Alex Albon in Williams for the new 24 -round season, with the original London pilot, aged 28, competition.
“I face someone (Sainz) who has a great reputation, has just come from a very strong year, perhaps his best in Formula 1, so it’s a big challenge to have and a positive perspective for me,” said Albon.
“I believe in me and I am happy to face someone.”
(This story has not been published by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a unionized flow.)
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