Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro is a Spanish Formula 1 driver currently racing for Williams. Steady, respected, and quietly fast, Sainz is the kind of driver everyone likes — and no team ever quite commits to. He’s moved from Toro Rosso to Renault, McLaren to Ferrari, now Williams — always delivering, often outperforming expectations, and somehow still treated like the second choice. A paddock survivor. A relentless fighter. And maybe the most undervalued top-tier talent in modern F1.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro |
| Born | 1 September 1994, Madrid, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Current Team | Williams (2025–present) |
| Former Teams | Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, Ferrari |
| Car Number | 55 |
| F1 Debut | 2015, Australian Grand Prix |
| Wins | 2 (Silverstone 2022, Singapore 2023) |
| Podiums | 20+ |
| Best Finish | 5th in Championship (2021, 2022) |
The Perpetual Number Two
There’s something deeply frustrating about Carlos Sainz’s F1 story. Not because he isn’t good — he is. Not because he doesn’t work hard — he absolutely does. But because no matter how well he performs, he’s never the guy.
He’s been Max Verstappen’s first teammate. Then he was pushed aside for Daniel Ricciardo at Renault. Then McLaren leaned into Lando Norris. Then Ferrari bet everything on Charles Leclerc. And now? He’s at Williams — a team in rebuild mode, trying to figure out whether Sainz is a leader or just a stopgap.
It’s not that Sainz lacks pace. He’s technically sharp, great on tires, and maybe the most clever race strategist behind the wheel in the entire field. His win in Singapore 2023 was pure brains — deliberately backing the pack to give Lando DRS. Genius stuff. But the spark, the killer instinct? It’s inconsistent. He’s a racer who wins by inches, not domination.
And that’s the Sainz paradox: always good, sometimes brilliant, never chosen.
Career Timeline: The Great Grid Nomad
- Junior Years & Red Bull Ladder
- Rose through Formula Renault and GP3 with Red Bull backing.
- Won the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 title.
- Debuted in F1 with Toro Rosso in 2015 — alongside some guy named Max Verstappen.
- Rose through Formula Renault and GP3 with Red Bull backing.
- Renault & McLaren (2017–2020)
- Moved to Renault mid-2017. Solid results, no long-term investment.
- Joined McLaren in 2019 — rebirth. Podium in Brazil 2019. Outsmarted Norris more often than people remember.
- Built reputation as a midfield leader and development asset.
- Moved to Renault mid-2017. Solid results, no long-term investment.
- Ferrari Years (2021–2024)
- Replaced Sebastian Vettel.
- Outscored Leclerc in 2021. Won at Silverstone in 2022.
- Singapore 2023: one of the smartest wins of the decade.
- Still, Ferrari always saw Leclerc as the chosen one. When Hamilton arrived for 2025, Sainz was pushed out.
- Replaced Sebastian Vettel.
- Williams Chapter Begins (2025– )
- Joins Williams in transition. Team aiming higher, but car remains inconsistent.
- First results are mixed. Team trying to decide: is Sainz the foundation or just a phase?
- Joins Williams in transition. Team aiming higher, but car remains inconsistent.
So Good It Hurts
Carlos Sainz is good enough for any team. But maybe not magnetic enough to be their main man. He’s always solid, always respected, and always one step away from being truly central. You never hear a bad word about him — and maybe that’s part of the problem.
F1 rewards stars, disruptors, divas. Sainz is none of those. He’s the clever choice, the safe bet, the guy who gets it done — and then gets replaced.
If Williams is smart, they’ll build around him. But history says they won’t.
