Alex Albon will welcome Carlos Sainz to Williams with open arms – despite their awkward coming together in Canada. Sainz will leave Ferrari at the end of the season after being replaced by Lewis Hamilton, and he will team up with Albon at Williams on a two-year deal from 2025.
Albon and Sainz will get the chance to find out all about each other next season. But they’ve already been well-acquianted during the current campaign after an incident at the Canadian Grand Prix.
In an action-packed race, Sainz ended up in the middle of the track on lap 51 after spinning out. Albon was unable to move out of the road and the pair collided – with both cars being retired before the end of the race.
This awkward encounter led to some questions to Albon after the race, as he was asked about his relationship with the Spaniard before his move to Williams was announced. Albon said: “We were in the lounge together. But there were a lot of drivers in the lounge together!”
Quizzed about his personal relationship with Sainz, Albon added: “As good as it is with everyone else. There are no differences.” Then, before the Spanish Grand Prix, the Thai driver was asked about what the Spaniard could bring to Williams, if he ended up joining. His response was telling.
“I mean, truthfully, on my side, I’m not so opinionated or fazed about who my team-mate is,” Albon said. Before adding: “In terms of experience and general developing of the team, of course it would be beneficial. We’re on this long journey, on this long project.”
Now, the pair will be working in close quarters after Sainz confirmed his switch to Williams, as Hamilton takes the Spaniard’s place at Ferrari for the 2025 season. After Hamilton announced his shock departure from Mercedes at the beginning of the year, fans were speculating about where Sainz would end up on the grid.
At the time of the Canadian Grand Prix, Williams were tipped as a major contender to sign Sainz for 2025. In the end the rumours turned out to be true as the Spaniard announced his departure from Ferrari on Monday after three years to join his new team.
In his announcement, the 29-year-old said: “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 1 January I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.”
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