Sainz will feel at home at Williams, claims Vasseur

After Williams had confirmed Carlos Sainz as its race driver for the 2025 F1 season, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur insisted that the Spaniard will feel at home at the Grove-based outfit.

After Ferrari announced in February that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz from 2025, the Spaniard has been linked with several outfits.

Following month-long paddock chatter, the talks ended yesterday when Williams confirmed that they secured the services of the three-time F1 race winner who will join the Grove-based outfit from Ferrari on a two-year agreement with options to extend.

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur welcomed the news, but he stressed that Ferrari will give its best to enable Sainz to fight in the remaining ten races.

"I am pleased that Carlos will be joining Williams Racing from next season. It's a team with a great history and legacy, founded by an enlightened man with an ambitious vision, so I know Carlos will feel at home there.

"I have great respect for James and I am sure Carlos will make a valuable contribution to his team. For now, Carlos is still very much a Ferrari driver and, over the remaining ten races we will all be working hard, focusing on our goals, fighting together for every single point until the very last lap of this championship," said the Frenchman.

Charles Leclerc also reacted to the news with a message shared on his official social media accounts: “Wishing you the best for your new adventure next year,Chili! Still got half a season together to have some more special moments as teammates."

Expanding on his new contract, Sainz said that the "solid leadership" was a key factor that convinced him to join the Grove-based outfit.

“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards. It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision.

"However, I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport.

"The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on January 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.

“I want to thank James Vowles and the entire Board of Williams for their trust and determination. Their solid leadership and convictions have played an important role in my decision-making. I truly believe that the core of every successful team lies amongst their people and their culture.

"Williams is synonymous with heritage and pure racing, the foundations of the project that lies ahead of us are very strong and I am really looking forward to being part of it starting next year.”