Sainz Thrives After Ferrari Exit, Qualifies Top 10 with Williams

ALBERT PARK, Australia – Carlos Sainz experienced a sense of vindication Saturday, qualifying among the top 10 at the Australian Grand Prix after his departure from Ferrari. Sainz, who was replaced by teammate Alex Albon, finished four slots behind his former rival at Albert Park.

Last year’s ninth-place finish in the constructors’ championship did not deter Williams, who aim to prove they can compete with the midfield teams following a solid performance in preseason testing. Sainz, a two-time race winner with Ferrari last year, opted for Williams over last-placed Sauber, which is set to become Audi’s factory team in 2026.

“Very happy, very proud of the whole team, the way we’ve managed to progress through the winter and put together a car that is allowing us to be in Q3 for the first time in many years with both cars. I think it’s great,” the 30-year-old Sainz said after qualifying.

Sainz acknowledged there is room for improvement as he learns to unlock the full potential of his car. “I was pretty strong in testing on the weekend, but clearly when it came to Q3, I didn’t know where to find the lap time, and I did a few mistakes, and now I need to build that for me,” he said.

When asked if his performance in qualifying solidified his decision to join the struggling team, Sainz affirmed, “Yeah, definitely. Might be how it’s meant to be, and now it’s a matter of working hard because I see a lot of potential in this team.”

Teammate Alex Albon, who faced challenges last year at Albert Park after wrecking his car in practice, approaches the season’s first race with renewed optimism. Albon missed out on points last season, finishing 11th despite previous competitiveness.

“We were fighting for points in previous years but …. this year it feels like we should be able to score points in every race,” Albon said. He remarked on the competitive landscape, indicating that battles between teams such as Red Bull Racing, Alpine, and others will be tight.

“I think every weekend is going to be split by a tenth [of a second] and that’s it. It’s motivating for all of us,” he added.

As rain is forecast for Sunday’s race, Albon is preparing for unpredictable conditions. “No one’s driven on the inters [intermediate tyres] or the wets. Good luck to the rookies,” he said. “Let’s see, anything can happen. I’m hoping for a fairly safe race but there is going to be carnage for sure.”