Carlos Sainz delivered Williams’ long-awaited breakthrough by winning the 2025 Baku Grand Prix, his first triumph since leaving Ferrari. The Spaniard’s bold decision to join Williams after Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari signing finally paid off in stunning fashion.
Ferrari’s move for Hamilton ahead of 2024 left Sainz without a clear path at a top team. With Red Bull and Mercedes choosing against him, the Spaniard committed to Williams’ rebuilding effort under James Vowles and fresh investment.
Williams’ Progress and Early Struggles
Williams showed genuine progress in 2025, moving up to fifth in the championship. Much of the early praise went to Alex Albon, who enjoyed the best season of his career with three fifth-place finishes.
Sainz, however, endured a tougher transition. Switching from Ferrari’s car proved more difficult than expected, compounded by mechanical issues, operational missteps, and a few errors of his own. Before Baku, Albon’s 70 points overshadowed Sainz’s 16, though the Spaniard steadily closed the performance gap.
Reflecting after his farewell Ferrari podium in Abu Dhabi 2024, Sainz admitted the uncertainty:
“That is a question that I cannot answer. It’s impossible to predict the future, impossible to know how long it’s going to take me and Williams to be back fighting for podium positions.
“What I can tell you is that I’m as determined as ever to help that team to be back where it belongs. I personally feel like I belong to be fighting for wins, podiums and top fives in Formula 1. I think I’ve proven it these last four years as a driver.”
Redemption in Baku
That prediction came true in Baku. Starting from second on the grid, Carlos Sainz produced a flawless drive. His superb qualifying lap in swirling winds gave him track position when faster cars faltered, and he never looked back.
For Sainz, the moment carried extra weight after 18 challenging months. He admitted the victory felt more special than his maiden podium with McLaren in Brazil 2019.
“This one means even more just because of a year ago when I put my bet on Williams, and I said I’m going to this team because I truly believe in this project, and I truly believe that this team is on the rise,” he explained while celebrating with champagne.
“I’m very comfortable in this working environment, also very comfortable with everyone around me. And I have actually been pretty fast all year with the car. I think out of everyone that’s changed teams — which is not an easy task nowadays — I’ve been very competitive from the first race, very quick, but I didn’t have results with me.”
Williams’ journey back to competitiveness has only just begun, but Sainz’s Baku win showed he still belongs among Formula 1’s frontrunners.
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