Carlos Sainz’s Disastrous 2025 Season: What Went Wrong at Williams?

The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a year of underachievement for many drivers, but none stand out quite like Carlos Sainz, whose performance has been marked by frustration and inconsistency. With just 16 points on the board compared to teammate Alex Albon’s impressive 70, it’s safe to say that the Spaniard’s switch to Williams hasn’t gone according to plan. But what went wrong? Why has Sainz failed to live up to the high expectations set when he made the move, and could he regret turning down offers from Audi and Sauber?

The Promise of a Fresh Start

Carlos Sainz’s decision to leave Ferrari for Williams at the end of 2024 was a bold one. Coming off a season where he had battled valiantly but ultimately been overshadowed by Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, the Spaniard was looking for a new challenge. Williams, while still far from the front-runners of Formula 1, offered him the opportunity to lead a team and bring his vast experience to bear. Many saw it as a chance for Sainz to elevate the team to greater heights, especially given the fact that Alex Albon had already started showing impressive performances in the previous seasons.

However, the reality of racing in 2025 has been much harder than anticipated. The Williams FW47, while making progress compared to past seasons, has not been the breakthrough car Sainz hoped for. While Albon has found consistent form and been a frequent scorer, Sainz has struggled to adapt to the car’s handling characteristics. The team’s current technical limitations have made it difficult for him to demonstrate the full extent of his talent, and the lack of reliability and consistency in his results has left him well behind Albon in the standings.

Sainz vs. Albon: The Teammate Battle

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of Sainz’s 2025 campaign is how he has been outperformed by his teammate, Alex Albon. Albon, who has been with Williams for longer and has become more accustomed to the quirks of the FW47, has been a consistent points scorer, finishing regularly in the top 10. Meanwhile, Sainz has found himself on the outside looking in, failing to secure points on multiple occasions despite having the pace to do so.

What makes this even more frustrating for Sainz is that many believed he would be the one to lead Williams forward. His years at Ferrari, his race wins, and his consistent performances in F1 should have equipped him to extract more from the car than Albon. Yet, the reality has been far different. As the season has progressed, it’s become increasingly clear that Sainz’s inability to consistently challenge for points has been one of the key disappointments of the 2025 season.

The Unlucky Streak

Carlos Sainz’s 2025 season has also been marred by an unfortunate streak of incidents. Whether it’s collisions, mechanical issues, or simple bad luck, it seems like every weekend has brought new challenges for the Spaniard. From the disastrous fire in Austria, which meant he didn’t start the race, to qualifying mishaps in Canada and issues with dirty air, Sainz has struggled to put together a clean weekend.

These incidents have ranged from on-track collisions with other drivers, including Liam Lawson and others, to penalties that have derailed his weekends. In some cases, the incidents were not even of his making, but the cumulative effect of each race’s misfortunes has been hard to shake. The result? A series of disappointing results and missed opportunities to score points.

Even when things seemed to be going well, like during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Sainz found himself involved in an incident with Lawson that saw both drivers drop to the back of the grid. Despite showing strong pace and the potential to challenge for points, the racing gods seemed to be against him, with incidents and penalties preventing him from capitalizing on what could have been a successful weekend.

The Battle of Adaptation

One of the key factors in Sainz’s struggles has been his adaptation to the Williams car. Unlike his teammate Albon, who has been able to adapt to the car’s handling characteristics, Sainz has struggled with the FW47’s balance. The car has shown a tendency to understeer, a driving trait that Sainz has often struggled with. In contrast, Albon’s smoother driving style has allowed him to manage the car’s handling more effectively.

This issue has been compounded by the team’s lack of consistent development throughout the season. As Williams has pushed forward with upgrades, Sainz has not been able to extract the same level of performance from them as Albon has. Whether it’s due to the way the car reacts to his inputs or an issue with the setup, Sainz’s difficulties have been evident all season long.

To make matters worse, he has also been hindered by several on-track incidents, as discussed earlier, which have only added to his woes. As the season has worn on, it’s become clear that Sainz’s frustrations are mounting.

The Regret Factor: Audi and Sauber

When Carlos Sainz left Ferrari for Williams, many questioned whether he made the right decision. At the time, rumors swirled about potential offers from Audi and Sauber, but Sainz chose Williams instead, hoping to lead the team to greater success.

As 2025 has unfolded, those alternative options are starting to look more appealing. Audi’s entrance into F1, with a more competitive package, could have been a fresh challenge for Sainz. Moreover, Sauber, with its connection to Audi, was also a team that could have provided Sainz with more stability and a better chance of challenging at the front. In hindsight, it’s possible that Sainz might be regretting not exploring these options more seriously, especially given the difficult start to his time at Williams.

What’s Next for Sainz?

Despite the difficult start to his Williams career, Carlos Sainz still has time to turn his fortunes around. The team has shown improvement over the years, and with new regulations on the horizon in 2026, there is still hope for Williams to make further strides. However, Sainz must quickly find his groove and start delivering consistent results.

For Williams, the key question is whether Sainz can rebound and show the kind of form that made him a top-tier driver in F1. If he can, the team will surely continue to back him as a key part of their future. However, if the struggles persist, there will be questions about whether he’s the right driver to help lead Williams into the future, especially when the team needs every point it can get in such a tightly packed midfield.

Sainz’s legacy in F1 is not at risk yet, but 2025 has been a season filled with frustration. As he moves forward in his career, the next few races will be critical in determining whether his partnership with Williams will pay off or if he’ll be remembered as one of the season’s biggest disappointments.