Reported talks with Audi over spearing their challenge in 2026 never came to anything, with the 30-year-old at one point appearing at risk of being without a seat for next season. However, in July it was confirmed Sainz had agreed a multi-year deal to join Williams, where he’ll drive alongside Alex Albon.
And the four-time Grand Prix winner has now conceded the lack of clamour for him left him bemused. However, he also said the situation has served as extra motivation for him to succeed under James Vowles at the British team.
“It hurt at the time,” he told Sky Sports F1. “We all have egos. I have a driver ego and I couldn’t understand it at the time. I still personally cannot understand certain choices that people have done.
“At the same time, it creates even more of a challenge in me, it even makes me more excited for Williams. Williams is the one that has invested in me, that have backed me up from the beginning, the ones that came to me a full year ago.
“It actually makes me super excited. I’ve said, ‘I want to give to these guys what they’ve given to me’, give back to them this trust and this belief in me. It gives me good strength. I cannot wait to go there and together with them build something good.”
Sainz currently lies fifth in the drivers’ standings, and has helped Ferrari fire into contention for the Constructors’ title. But despite still appearing amongst the best on the grid, he insisted that there was no lingering bitterness towards the teams that declined to make him an offer.
“I’ve definitely come to peace and I’m a true believer that if I’m not going there, it’s because life just doesn’t want me to be there,” he added. “There’s something else coming after that that will actually turn out to be good.”
This campaign will signal the end of a four-year stint with Sainz at Ferrari, having previously driven with McLaren. And with three races to go he could yet sign off with team success at the Scuderia, with the gap between them and his former team just 36 points in the team standings.
