Sainz's feedback hasn't yet shaped Williams' 2025 car

Carlos Sainz, the former Ferrari driver, has joined Williams for the 2025 Formula One season. Although his feedback on the team's car has been helpful, it has not yet changed the design of the car. Williams' head of vehicle performance, Dave Robson, mentioned that Sainz confirmed their identified weaknesses from the previous year. In 2024, Williams finished ninth in the constructors' championship. The team is optimistic about climbing the rankings after a better performance in pre-season testing and during the recent Australian Grand Prix. Alex Albon, their driver, achieved a fifth-place finish, his best result since moving from Red Bull. Team principal James Vowles signed Sainz with high hopes, viewing it as a significant addition. Robson noted that Sainz's perspective on car handling was interesting but not influential yet. Sainz had a challenging moment last year when he lost his seat to Lewis Hamilton, who is now driving for Ferrari. Robson expressed satisfaction with the improvements made so far, although he acknowledged that Williams may not yet match Ferrari's speed on a single lap. However, he pointed out that they managed to outperform Ferrari in the race in Australia.