{"id":274488,"date":"2025-07-19T10:32:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T10:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/274488\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T10:32:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T10:32:13","slug":"how-sainz-brought-the-missing-ingredient-to-drive-williams-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/274488\/","title":{"rendered":"How Sainz brought the “missing” ingredient to drive Williams forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

The arrival of Carlos Sainz<\/a> at Williams<\/a> provided far more than just a Formula 1 sporting boost, according to sporting director Sven Smeets.<\/p>\n

The Spaniard\u2019s move to the team is reportedly impacting everything from the development of the 2026 car, to sponsor interest and even the appeal of the Williams Driver Academy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since the Spaniard joined Williams, Smeets spoke with admiration about the way Sainz has integrated into the team so quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCarlos is a fantastic person to work with,\u201d he told Autosport. \u201cHe\u2019s made a big impact across the board \u2013 not just on the car and technical side, but also in how the race team operates and how we\u2019re preparing for 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHis experience at multiple teams and in race-winning machinery has brought us something we were probably still missing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the beginning of the season required some adaptation, as the Spaniard\u2019s move from Ferrari<\/a> to Williams wasn\u2019t without its challenges, Smeets is optimistic about the remaining races in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Carlos <\/p>\n

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams<\/p>\n

Photo by: Peter Fox \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cAs he mentioned himself, he had to get used to the philosophy of our car,\u201d Smeets explained. \u201cThere\u2019s a big difference between our car and the Ferrari. But that\u2019s going better and better now. He\u2019s working really well with Alex Albon<\/a>. We\u2019re very happy, and I\u2019m expecting a strong second half of the season.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of the concrete benefits of Sainz\u2019s arrival, according to Smeets, is the increased efficiency in how the team operates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth sides of the garage are now working at the same level \u2013 and more importantly, they\u2019re working closely together,\u201d Smeets said. \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re able to divide the workload better during FP1 and FP2, and combine the knowledge gained to decide what’s the best way forward for the rest of the weekend. That\u2019s hugely valuable to us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Smeets also highlighted the strong dynamic between Sainz and Albon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOn track, they\u2019re competitors, but in the garage it\u2019s all about teamwork \u2013 pushing the team forward, improving the car and supporting the factory with its development. We now have two drivers pushing the team hard, and they\u2019re doing so in the same direction, which makes things a bit easier.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

When both drivers end up with similar car set-ups, Smeets said, it\u2019s often a sign that the team is heading in the right direction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Carlos <\/p>\n

Carlos Sainz, Williams<\/p>\n

Photo by: Sam Bagnall \/ Motorsport Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve found that if their set-ups aren\u2019t far apart, that\u2019s usually a good sign,\u201d he explained. \u201cIf they go in different directions, it might indicate something\u2019s not quite right.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Sainz has brought more than just speed to the team, he\u2019s also contributed fresh ideas and insights, as Smeets explained: \u201cOver the first six months, he\u2019s pointed out a lot of things we could do differently or better. Some are things we can only implement next year, but many short-term gains we\u2019ve already adopted.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

One practical example? \u201cPreparing the tyres behind the garage \u2013 how you warm them and how you stack them,\u201d said Smeets. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of Carlos\u2019 previous teams did that slightly differently in wet conditions. It\u2019s about small details, but they can gain you milliseconds. And when that adds up, it becomes a tenth. That\u2019s when it starts to matter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sainz\u2019s influence is also being felt away from the garage. Williams has seen a significant boost in fan engagement, merchandise sales and sponsor interest since his arrival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did a demo run with Carlos in Madrid. They expected 5,000 to 7,000 fans, but 25,000 showed up. It ended up being one of our best merchandise sales days ever,\u201d Smeets said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Carlos <\/p>\n

Carlos Sainz, Williams<\/p>\n

Photo by: Zak Mauger \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fan zones that Williams organises around certain grands prix have also seen rapid growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we started, they attracted around 500 to 1,000 fans. But if you look at the numbers we drew this year in Australia, Miami, Barcelona and London, those are now serious events in their own right,\u201d said Smeets. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Sainz is also proving to be a commercial asset, as he added: \u201cWe now have a title sponsor, and there\u2019s strong interest from other parties too. Having two top drivers definitely helps.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even the Williams Driver Academy is benefiting \u2013 albeit indirectly \u2013 from Sainz\u2019s presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHis arrival underlines how seriously we\u2019re looking at the future, and that helps massively in our conversations with young drivers and their management teams. We\u2019re now getting far more enquiries than before,\u201d said Smeets, before adding that Williams remains selective for the programme. \u201cWe want to keep our focus on a handful of talents \u2013 ideally one per category. But Carlos has given a major boost to the entire project.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/p>\n

With Sainz\u2019s arrival, Williams has found new momentum \u2013 his presence proving a catalyst as the team sets its sights on a return to the front of the grid. Not only has the team secured a fast and experienced driver, but someone whose work ethic, technical feedback and reputation are helping elevate the entire operation. And, if you ask Smeets, this is just the beginning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve taken a big step forward in every area with Carlos onboard,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd hopefully, we\u2019ll continue to reap the rewards in the coming years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this article<\/p>\n

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