Carlos Sainz will race his final race with Ferrari in Abu Dhabi, after which he will begin his adventure with Williams.
In the final Grand Prix of the season, the Madrid-born driver will officially say goodbye to Ferrari after four seasons. Sainz will drive for Williams starting with the post-season tests scheduled for Monday at the Abu Dhabi circuit. Sainz had also been the subject of rumors about a potential return to Red Bull, but the Spanish driver has denied them.
In an interview, Sainz explained the reasons behind his decision not to move to Red Bull. He said: “I simply don’t fit the type of driver they need at this moment. I believe, if anything, many people in the paddock will think I took too long, especially many of my colleagues. I don’t think I’d be comfortable in Red Bull’s situation. They had me available for six months and didn’t choose me. If anything, they’re doing me a favor. I don’t see it as a missed opportunity for not waiting until December.”
Now, the Spanish driver’s focus is on the Williams project: “That’s not how the Formula 1 market works. If I had done that, I would have been without a Formula 1 contract for 2025 if I had made Alpine, Williams, or Audi wait until later. I also obviously have an ego, and I can’t explain enough how wanted I felt by Williams and how much I was pushed to join them. They did an incredible job convincing me, and I can’t wait to start this project.”