Carlos Sainz wasted no time making his mark at Williams, becoming the first driver to take the team’s 2025 challenger, the FW47, out on track. The Silverstone shakedown marked the beginning of a new era for both Sainz and the Grove-based outfit, as they aim to climb the Formula 1 ranks after securing the four-time race winner’s signature for 2025 and beyond.
A Fresh Start After Ferrari Exit
Sainz’s move to Williams was one of the most talked-about transfers of the off-season. With Lewis Hamilton set to replace him at Ferrari, Sainz had options—but instead of opting for a midfield project or a reserve role, he chose Williams. And in return, the team gave him the honor of being the first driver to test the FW47 at Silverstone.
Sainz’s First Impressions of the FW47
After completing an initial installation lap, Sainz was all smiles, reporting that everything was working smoothly.
“I can tell you everything went fine, which is good news,” Sainz said. “An install lap of a newly-born car is always a bit tricky, but everything worked as it should, and now we’re ready to get into the run plan.”
With teammate Alex Albon also present, Williams worked through its allocated filming day, using the British Grand Prix venue to gather crucial early data on the FW47’s reliability and baseline performance.
Williams’ One-Off Livery Before Full Reveal
Fans may have noticed that the FW47 sported a unique look during the shakedown. Williams opted for a bespoke one-off design, with its official 2025 race livery set to be unveiled on February 18 at F1’s first-ever season launch event at the O2 Arena in London.
Fine-Tuning for the Season Ahead
Sainz emphasized that while the initial outing was smooth, there were small areas for improvement that he would relay to the team.
“I need to give feedback—the two or three things that I felt could be improved, or the feeling inside the cockpit that I want to talk to them about,” Sainz added. “Then we’ll get the car ready to run on slicks and probably start pushing it little by little.”
With pre-season testing in Bahrain just around the corner, Williams and Sainz are eager to fine-tune their 2025 package and set the tone for what they hope will be a major step forward in the coming season.
