Carlos Sainz Williams F1 debut was among the highlights of the Abu Dhabi post-season test as teams returned to action at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Sainz officially embarked on a new chapter in his Formula 1 career after making his first run as a Williams driver and went on to deliver impressive results during the post-season test.
The Abu Dhabi post-season test served as a platform for Carlos Sainz Williams F1 debut alongside several young drivers while the teams got an opportunity to evaluate new tyre compounds developed by Pirelli for the upcoming 2025 F1 season.
The Spaniard’s move to Williams comes after spending four years at Ferrari where he achieved notable success but the team decided to sideline him in favour of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Carlos Sainz Williams F1 debut followed a private filming session held just a day after he finished second in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the race that capped off an intense season.
On his debut day, Sainz donned a plain white race suit and helmet symbolizing a fresh start with his new team. He proceeded to complete seven laps, setting a best time of 1m26.484s.
While his time was slower than his qualifying effort with Ferrari just days earlier—where he achieved a remarkable 1m22.824s to secure third on the grid—it was an essential step in acclimating to his new team and machinery.
The structure of the Abu Dhabi post-season test allowed all ten teams to run two cars: one for experienced drivers focusing on tyre testing and another for rookie drivers gaining valuable experience.
This setup provided Carlos Sainz with a unique opportunity to not only test the new Pirelli tyres but also to help Williams F1 team gather crucial data as they prepare for the 2025 F1 season.
Williams selected Luke Browning, a Formula 3 race winner, as their designated rookie driver for the day, allowing him to gain experience while Sainz focused on performance.
Throughout the morning session, Sainz quickly established himself as a key player on the timesheets, even topping them at one point with a time of 1m24.435s after completing 60 laps. He was closely followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris, both of whom were also testing their respective teams’ new setups.
As the day progressed, Carlos Sainz Williams F1 debut continued to impress, demonstrating adaptability and speed that hinted at his potential to contribute significantly to the team’s performance—having finished ninth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Sainz’s transition from Ferrari to Williams is part of a broader reshuffling within F1’s driver market. With Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari and other notable changes across various teams, the landscape of Formula 1 is evolving.
The Abu Dhabi post-season test also featured other notable drivers making their debuts for new teams. Esteban Ocon was seen testing for Haas after leaving Alpine, while Nico Hulkenberg made his first appearance at Sauber alongside newly crowned Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoletto.
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda had his first opportunity to drive Red Bull’s current machinery as he looks to secure his place within the team amid ongoing discussions about Sergio Perez’s future.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli missed the early session as he continues to recover from illness that prevented him from competing in last weekend’s Formula 2 finale. However, he got into action in the afternoon after Frederik Vesti took over his car and set the 17th-fastest time.
After his maiden run with the team, Paul Aron—who was just announced as Alpine’s reserve driver for 2025 F1—also made his debut during the Abu Dhabi post-season test and finished ninth fastest, five spots behind teammate Jack Doohan.
