Sainz defined that his first impressions had been “constructive”, and he mentioned Williams’ willingness to host a day for media and sponsors and provides the automobile its debut on the identical time was indicative of the progress the workforce had made.
Final 12 months, the workforce struggled firstly of the season as makes an attempt to introduce new processes within the workforce delayed the automobile construct. A crash-strewn 2024 season has additionally impacted the workforce financially.
Sainz, whose seat at Ferrari was taken by Lewis Hamilton, mentioned he wished Williams to proceed to indicate progress in 2025 as they construct in direction of the brand new laws that will probably be launched in F1 in 2026.
“You will need to preserve the momentum up, preserve the constructive pattern, the ahead trajectory,” Sainz mentioned.
“And if we handle to maintain that momentum going and driving the wave in a means, that for me is an important as a result of Williams’ massive alternative comes extra in ’26 than ’25.”
Sainz shrugged off a query as to how he would really feel when he sees Hamilton in a Ferrari for the primary time by saying he had “been by way of that already” after seeing the seven-time champion’s look on the Ferrari manufacturing unit final month.
Spaniard Sainz received 4 grands prix for Ferrari in his 4 years with the workforce and mentioned he was unsure how he would really feel about his inevitable fall down the sphere.
“I do not know the way a lot I’m going to overlook it, how a lot enjoyable I’m going to search out it preventing for P7-P15,” Sainz mentioned. “Perhaps you should ask me later within the 12 months how I’m discovering it.
“However what I can inform you is I am very blissful and motivated, I’m excited, I really feel supported. I really feel a workforce full of fine, constructive power and a workforce principal and workforce that absolutely trusts in my talents and needs to take heed to what I’ve to say and I’ve confidence in my skill to maneuver ahead.”
Crew boss James Vowles mentioned the automobile was an “evolution” of final 12 months’s mannequin however that the workforce’s prime focus this 12 months was to make sure it was finest ready for 2026, when new engine and chassis guidelines come on stream collectively for the primary time in F1’s fashionable period.
“Everyone seems to be aligned, and that features Carlos and Alex, that we wish to be successful championships and for that we won’t preserve giving a little bit bit in direction of now as a result of it appears higher,” Vowles mentioned.
“Should you put your concentrate on the next 12 months you miss out on that long-term evolution. There are bits we’re doing in the present day that will not come on line till 2027.
“The very fact we have gone from 700 individuals to 1,000 means you may have low-hanging fruit of manufacturing a greater automobile with extra efficiency added to it, however I think about that second to the long-term funding to get us the place we should be.”
