Carlos Sainz Sr Praises Son's 'Special' Williams Podium in Azerbaijan

Carlos Sainz Jr. secured his first podium finish with Williams at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a feat his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr., admits he never thought possible. Sainz Sr., while competing at the Rally of Portugal, lauded his son's hard work and the significance of achieving such a result with Williams.

Why it matters:

• This podium marks a significant milestone for both Carlos Sainz Jr. and the Williams team, signaling a potential resurgence for the historic outfit under James Vowles' leadership.
• For Sainz Jr., it validates his decision to join Williams and demonstrates his ability to extract maximum performance from his machinery, potentially influencing his long-term career trajectory.
• The achievement, coming without the aid of external factors like safety cars or bad tire choices, underscores the genuine progress made by Williams.

The details:

• Carlos Sainz Jr. started on the front row and converted his strong qualifying performance into a third-place finish at the Baku City Circuit.
• He finished behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes' George Russell, showcasing his ability to compete with top-tier drivers.
• First Williams Podium since 2021: This result is Williams' first podium since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix and the first for Team Principal James Vowles since joining in 2023.
• Sainz Sr. emphasized that the podium was a product of hard work, not luck, stating to Marca: "We're very happy; it's a great result. He's worked hard for it, and after a bad run, the sun always comes out a little."
• He highlighted the clean nature of the podium: "This time it was a podium with Williams, which is an excellent result, especially because it wasn't due to yellow flags, a safety car, rain, or a bad tyre choice."

What's next:

• Carlos Sainz Jr. is focused on building on this success, with his father confirming their conversation about moving forward and aiming for the next podium.
• The team and driver are looking to finish the 2025 season strongly, continue learning, and work collaboratively with Williams.
• Expectations are high for a competitive car in 2026, with significant regulation changes on the horizon, which could further benefit Williams' upward trajectory.