Carlos Sainz shares Ferrari reaction to first Williams podium

Follow us on Google Discover

Carlos Sainz has revealed the messages of support he received from Ferrari after securing a first podium for Williams at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Sainz put in an impressive drive in Baku, holding off late pressure to claim third place and deliver Williams their first top-three finish since the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Fred Vasseur’s off-record comment fuels speculation on Carlos Sainz Ferrari comeback

It hasn’t been an easy season for the Spaniard so far, with just 16 points compared to teammate Alex Albon’s 70. But inside the team, there was never any panic about his start to life at Grove.

Sainz spoke to F1TV after returning to Maranello and mentioned that many Ferrari staff were pleased to see him back around the paddock during his return for one of their home races.

Sainz felt the support from his former Ferrari teammates after Baku result

Sainz moved on from Ferrari after they signed Lewis Hamilton for 2025, a decision that was made public before the previous season began.

The 31-year-old parted ways with the team on good terms and spoke positively about the relationship during an interview with BBC Radio 1.

“I must say Ferrari was really happy for me, we had a really good goodbye, and a really good end to the year last year,” Sainz told listeners. “Honestly, I just felt like I left a lot of good friends and a lot of good people.”

“I think it was just the circumstances of Lewis being a seven-time world champion, wanting to finish his career in Ferrari, and I had to leave, and in that case, this is where I found Williams.

“Now that I’ve scored my first podium at Williams, all of the people from Ferrari, and everyone was congratulating me, everyone seemed to be very, very proud and happy.”

Sainz’s former teammate Charles Leclerc also congratulated him over team radio at the end of the race, despite dealing with his own frustrations about how things went for him on race day in Baku.

“He used to be one of my idols” – Sainz on Lewis Hamilton

In his chat with the radio show, Sainz was also asked about his views on Hamilton. The Spaniard was open in sharing how much he respected the seven-time world champion.

“For me, honestly, he’s my competitor, but if I wasn’t in F1, he would be one of my idols,” Sainz said. “Actually, I was 10 years old when he arrived to Formula One, and he became world champion in 2008 when I was 12.”

“And that’s when I started watching Formula 1, when he was racing Fernando Alonso and [Felipe] Massa. He used to be one of my idols and someone I looked up to. Now, all these years later, we’re competitors.”

Sainz’s result in Azerbaijan means he has outpaced his Ferrari replacement for a podium finish this season.

Hamilton has now made 17 starts for the team without a top-three finish – setting a new record for the most races by a Ferrari driver before reaching the podium.