In a surprising turn of events, former Manor F1 driver, Roberto Merhi, has been spotted within the Williams garage in Bahrain. Merhi is now a member of Carlos Sainz’s close-knit team as Sainz gears up for his inaugural season with Williams in F1 2025. This news has certainly stirred the F1 world, as Sainz made his transition from Ferrari to the Grove-based squad during the winter.
Sainz, a four-time race victor, along with his teammate Alex Albon, took charge of the brand new FW47 car during the opening day of pre-season testing in Bahrain. They clocked up a commendable 68 laps in total, with Sainz posting the fifth-quickest time of the day. The racing aficionados are eagerly awaiting his performance on the second day before he hands over the reins to Albon on Friday.
The ex-Ferrari driver is often accompanied by his inner circle at F1 race weekends. This includes his father, the legendary rally driver Carlos Sainz Sr, and his cousin and manager Carlos Onoro.
Now, Merhi, who has 13 F1 starts under his belt for the now-defunct Manor team in 2015, has been added to this exclusive circle. Sainz’s first season coincided with Merhi’s stint with Manor. Merhi, currently a Super GT series racer, is known to be a close ally of Sainz, and the two are frequently seen together off the track.
The presence of Merhi in the Williams garage was noted by the esteemed pit-lane reporter, Ted Kravitz, during the live TV coverage of pre-season testing. Kravitz observed the influence of Sainz and Merhi on the team, stating, “Merhi is not just standing and watching. He’s actually talking to the engineers, understanding a lot, acting as a second pair of eyes for Sainz to understand the car and the way that Williams work.”
This development has led to speculation about whether Williams is providing Sainz with more latitude than Ferrari, where the drivers’ groups were more isolated from the engineers.
Alex Brundle, the professional racer and son of respected F1 pundit Martin Brundle, also welcomed Merhi’s presence in the Williams garage. He emphasized the beneficial role Merhi could play for Sainz as he adjusts to his new team. Brundle explained that having a trusted friend, a compatriot, and someone who is not a threat can be a great asset in the garage.
Clearly, Sainz’s move to Williams and the inclusion of Merhi in his inner circle has set the stage for an intriguing 2025 F1 season. With these strategic moves, it appears that Sainz and Williams are ready to take the F1 world by storm.
