Sainz reveals rally legend dad wanted Audi, not Williams

Carlos Sainz has revealed his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr., was left disappointed by his rejection of a “great offer” from Audi-Sauber and his subsequent decision to join Williams.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s season opening Australian Grand Prix, Sainz shared how his gut led him to the Grove-based outfit over other options, even as his father, a two-time World Rally champion and recent Dakar Rally winner with Audi, had hoped for a different path.

The candid admission adds a personal twist to Sainz’s high-stakes career move after Ferrari replaced him with Lewis Hamilton.

Sainz Sr.’s ties to Audi, cemented by his 2024 Dakar triumph, made the German manufacturer’s F1 entry – via the rebranded Sauber team in 2026 – an appealing prospect for his son.

But despite months of deliberation following his Ferrari exit, Sainz Jr. followed his instincts to Williams, a choice that didn’t sit well at home.

A Father’s Hopes vs. a Son’s Instincts

In an interview with Swiss outlet Blick, Sainz laid bare his father’s lingering frustration.

“My father, Carlos, is still disappointed that I didn’t choose Audi’s great offer a few months ago,” he said.

“After my dream of moving to Red Bull or Mercedes fell through, I had to decide between Audi, Alpine, and Williams.

“After visiting the factories and having discussions, my gut feeling immediately told me – go to Williams. They want a better future. And when my heart also said yes, the decision was made.”

The choice marked a divergence from his father’s wishes, rooted in Audi’s promising F1 project and their shared success in rallying. Yet, Sainz remains hopeful that his decision will receive validation in the future.

“I hope that my father, who had great times with Audi, will soon be happy that I chose Williams,” he added.

First Impressions at Williams

Sainz’s move to Williams, a team striving to reclaim its past glory, kicked off with an encouraging feeling last December in Abu Dhabi.

“As soon as I jumped into the car and started working with the people I was going to work with this year, I felt I had just joined a team full of motivation, full of people wanting to bring this team back to the front,” he said.

“The car also didn’t disappoint me. It was a good test overall in Abu Dhabi and we’ve had a strong winter of development. We’ve tried to hit the ground running this year and we’ve had a positive test.”

His early experience underscores why Williams felt like the right fit – a team hungry to rise, mirroring his own ambitions after four seasons at Ferrari yielded four wins but no title shot.

Eyes on Progress, Not Predictions

While Sainz is optimistic about Williams’ direction, he’s keeping expectations in check as the 2025 season dawns. The team’s pace remains an open question, and he’s cautious about forecasting their competitiveness.

“Are we going to be half a second, one second off the leaders? I don’t know,” he admitted.

“But hopefully we can show progress. I think that’s the fundamental word for us this year: keep showing progress as a team and see where we end up.”

• Read also: Sainz admits being ‘a bit lost’ as Williams faces F1 season opener

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