Carlos Sainz like Ickx, Mansell, and Prost in Williams, Ferrari, and McLaren: the thread that ties these four Formula 1 drivers together.
At Yas Marina last December, Carlos Sainz had to say goodbye to what had been his home for four exciting years, during which he secured his first career victory at the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This was followed by a win in 2023 at Marina Bay, successes in Albert Park—after undergoing appendicitis surgery—and a victory Mexico City During this period, Scuderia Ferrari came within just 14 points of realizing the dream of bringing the Constructors’ Championship trophy back to Maranello, after 2008.
Now, the Spaniard will move to Grove, where he will wear new colors. However, a fascinating statistic in Sainz’s career is his involvement with McLaren, Ferrari, and Williams—three iconic and historic teams in the Formula 1 world. While the first two seem to be finding their footing and are on the verge of returning to fight for podiums, Williams is still struggling to get back to the top of the sport, as it once was.
Carlos Sainz will be an important part of this mission for the British team. After leaving his seat at Maranello to make way for Lewis Hamilton, he will join the squad led by James Vowles, adding another notable chapter to his career. This mirrors the experiences of Jacky Ickx, Nigel Mansell, and Alain Prost, who also raced for the three teams. In fact, these three drivers share a history with Sainz, having raced for Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams throughout their careers.
In 1973, Belgian driver Jacky Ickx raced for Ferrari and McLaren, with a brief appearance at Iso-Malboro, which later became Williams. As for Nigel Mansell, his time at Williams marked a fresh start. After making his debut with Lotus, the British driver secured his first Formula 1 victories with the Grove team before moving to Ferrari in 1989, where he stayed for only two seasons. He later returned to Williams, winning the Constructors’ Championship in 1992, before moving to McLaren in 1995, although he did not complete the season, marking the end of his F1 career.
Following in Mansell’s footsteps was Alain Prost. The French driver also raced for McLaren, Ferrari, and Williams, in the same order as Sainz. After winning three world titles with McLaren—where he raced from 1984 to 1989—Prost moved to Ferrari. However, he was unable to replicate the glory years he had at Woking. After a sabbatical year, he returned to the sport and won his fourth world title in 1993.
In conclusion, Carlos Sainz now joins an exclusive club in F1 history. However, it is worth noting that Williams is not the dominant force it once was. That said, nothing is certain in the world of motorsport, and the Spaniard’s contribution to the team is yet to unfold.
Photo: Williams Racing, Scuderia Ferrari HP.