Carlos Sainz’s 2025 F1 Miami GP was a mix of frustration and optimism. The Williams driver reflected on a challenging race that could have yielded better results. Starting on four-lap old tyres while his competitors were on fresh rubber, Sainz knew his first stint would be compromised.
“The start itself went well, but I was starting on a four-lap used tyre, when the others were on new tyres and I knew this was going to make me slower on the first stint and vulnerable,” he explained in the press conference, touching on the challenges he faced earlier in the race.
To add to his struggles, Sainz damaged his car after an opening lap collision with Williams teammate Alex Albon, making his stint even more difficult.
“On top of that, I picked up damage in Turn 3 with Alex at the start with slight contact. So I just made my first stint obviously very difficult with the used tyre and the damaged car,” he added.
Despite these setbacks, Sainz’s determination didn’t waver. “Tried to hold on for my life with faster cars around me, and we were one of the first ones to stop. That gave a much shorter pit stop time to all the cars that stopped three laps later with the VSC,” he said.
The Virtual Safety Car [VSC] presented another challenge for the Ferrari driver as it allowed the later-stopping cars to benefit from a shorter pit stop time, leaving Sainz even more exposed to the competition.
In the end, Sainz expressed his disappointment, admitting that a better result was possible to wrap up the F1 Miami GP despite the obstacles.
“And in the end, I was vulnerable again… That’s why I’m frustrated and why today I think we should have scored bigger points,” he concluded.
Carlos Sainz leaves F1 Miami GP with positives
Sainz remained positive about his overall performance and Williams’ progress, especially in terms of competing with the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes.
“Very happy and proud as a team to be fighting the top four cars, as also the Mercedes. I felt like today we were almost quicker than them,” he said, highlighting a silver lining in what was a tough race.
“Good news, we just need to keep going as a team. There will be tracks where we might have this opportunity again, and I want to be the first driver to maximise it.”
Sainz delivers verdict on last-lap Lewis Hamilton incident
The closing laps saw Sainz attempt a bold move on Lewis Hamilton. “I think he [Hamilton] reacted a bit to my move. It caught him a bit by surprise and he started moving left during braking – which if you apply the rulebook to the letter you cannot do that as that is moving under braking,” Sainz explained.
He added that racing hard in the final laps is a part of the sport. “But last lap, last corner, everyone is going to be a bit on the limit.”
The stewards investigated the incident between Sainz and Hamilton but ultimately decided there would be no further action, deeming both drivers partly at fault.
Hamilton was found to have reacted to Sainz’s move by braking earlier, while Sainz was criticised for attempting a move when he hadn’t earned the corner.
Ultimately, Sainz’s race was one of perseverance and tactical decision making and although the result wasnt ideal, the Spaniard’s belief in the team’s growth is evident. As Williams continues to improve, Sainz remains hopeful that more opportunities to battle for higher positions will come in the near future.
