Williams has announced that Carlos Sainz is to make his debut with the Grove outfit in the end of season test in Abu Dhabi.

According to the team the test will provide a valuable chance for Sainz to begin integrating into his new environment, as he drives the FW46 for the first time.

The Spaniard will drive alongside Alex Albon in 2025, forming what Williams describes as "one of the most formidable driver line-ups on the grid".

Sadly, the test will not see Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari colours for the first time, as it is understood the Maranello outfit and Mercedes could not come to an agreement.

Instead fans will have to wait until the recently announced season launch event on 18 February... tickets for which are available priced between £58 and £113 (including booking fees), and are likely to have been snapped up when they went on sale earlier today.

Despite Sainz getting clearance on the Williams debut, there is still much speculation over whether we might yet witness a major reshuffle should Red Bull opt to drop Sergio Perez.

It is thought that the Austrian team might come to an agreement with Williams to release the Spaniard to partner Max Verstappen, thus allowing Franco Colapinto to continue with the Grove outfit.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by meatball, 20/11/2024 18:08

"No Ragerts"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by ffracer, 16/11/2024 14:31

"@estoril85:

I like Carlos Sainz but, with all due respect, Max Verstappen is the most complete driver the world has seen in a long time. In my humble opinion, Carlos is much better than Sergio Perez and he might get close to Max (think Senna and Berger). Carlos is very good on a hot lap and good in race craft but not as good in the wet and, while great with managing tires, he’s not as consistent in races. Is that a result of botched strategies c/o the infamous Ferrari dithering pit wall? Not all of it. Max is great at every facet of driving and racing. He is then one of the very best at dragging a poorly set up racecar by the scruff of the neck like no other. Finally, his race craft is second to none lately. He’s four steps ahead when racing someone and still has the presence of mind to configure strategy with GP on the pit wall, complete with from s when needed lol. Amazing.

Finally, to qualify ‘racecraft’, and not the exploited race-to-the-apex-to-claim-the-corner garbage we’ve seen. That is the FIA’s fault at a poorly written and interpreted rule that we all have had to endure. Inconsistent rulings and very late decisions are further ruining this beautiful sport, this dance of the Titans. True champions can drive head and shoulders above anyone else and will always try to exploit the rules. The winner of Estoril in 1985 did a lot of that in his career, some of which I disagreed with as it became standard dangerous driving in the lower classes - ‘going for a gap‘ that wouldn’t fit a nose one when we’re paying for our own damage, Some including rollovers - and until the FIA had to deal with it. Certain drivers got away with it - ultimately making it acceptable - and made me want whisky-on-the-drip lol and I blame the FIA because, in most sports, referees blow the whistle and mete out fair punishment immediately - or seek a decision from the league, from qualified personnel charged with reviewing all available video feed and making emergency decisions and penalties within a minute, not minutes or even hours, before the bad, inconsistent and late decision itself poisons the outcome of the event. My humble two cents."

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by estoril85, 16/11/2024 13:20

"ffracer, Jos wouldn't want to see his boy getting beat as regularly as Carlos has beaten 'chosen son' Leclerc at ferrari.
It's a shame that a driver as good as Sainz has ended up at a midfiled team, hopefully Williams can come good."

Rating: Negative (-2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by ffracer, 16/11/2024 8:05

"In a perfect world, Carlos Sainz (back) to Red Bull and Franco Colapinto staying at Williams would set the stage for 2025. The driver pairings for Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari couldn't be better. "

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Sainz to drive Williams in Abu Dhabi test

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page